With great success and with more than 3,5 thousand visitors, the 13th Pancyprian Cultural Watermelon Cultural Festival took place on Friday, July 2018, 12 in Frenaros.
Watch the video from the Festival.
Image: Cleanthis Siopachas
Guests flocked early to the village community stadium and had the opportunity to enjoy cocktails, sweets and watermelon ice cream.
There was plenty of watermelon for all present and representatives of the Department of Agriculture were there willing to talk about all their varieties of watermelon.
Watermelon growers were present to talk about their products. The guests had the opportunity to enjoy a demonstration of traditional professions, to taste fresh donuts, pies, halloumi, corn, souvlaki and kleftiko. The children enjoyed the stilt games, the inflatables, the face painting, the robotics show and much more.
The festival was adorned with music and dance with the presence of the organized ensembles of the community.
The event was greeted by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Mr. Costas Kadis and the community leader Mr. Michalis Hatzigiorkas.
The festival culminated with the award of the largest watermelon. The award was won by Christos Pittas, with a watermelon weighing 28.7 kg.
The evening ended with songs and music by Michalis Dimitriadis, Annita Konstantinou, Christakis Anastasiou and Soto Gonio.
The celebrations of 12th Pancyprian Cultural Festival of Watermelon had started on June 13, 2018 when the Organizing Committee of the Festival in collaboration with the District Agricultural Office of Famagusta and within the organization and upgrading of the Festival organized a demonstration - workshop of making watermelon cake with watermelon. , Assistant Supervisor of Rural Home Economy.
The organizing committee of the Festival expresses its gratitude to the watermelon farmers of SEDIGEP Frenarou, to all the organized groups of the community that participated in the Festival, to the sponsors and supporters of the festival and of course to all the volunteers or volunteers who success of the festival, as reported.
Communication sponsor was Famagusta.News
Greeting of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Mr. Costas Kadis at the 12th Pancyprian Cultural Watermelon Festival
I gladly accepted the request of the Frenaros Community Council to put under my auspices this beautiful event, which is dedicated to one of the most important products of Cyprus, the watermelon. Such events contribute significantly to the rural economy and contribute to the wider economic development of our country, by exchanging new ideas and disseminating new practices in production, processing and marketing in the agricultural sector.
Tonight's Festival gives the opportunity to young and old to enjoy original delicacies and drinks with watermelon as the main ingredient, to be entertained with traditional dances and music, to take part in pleasant and creative activities and to get to know the beautiful Frenaros. At the same time, the folklore experiential experience offered by the Festival is important, because it awakens the interest of locals and foreigners in issues related to our cultural heritage and keeps our traditions alive.
Friends,
Watermelon, a very popular fruit, has become synonymous with summer. It is refreshing, sweet and helps to deal with the high temperatures that prevail in our country. According to the World Food Organization, watermelon is among the 20 most important agricultural products produced on our island. Agricultural statistics show that the domestic area of watermelon cultivation ranges from 250 to 500 hectares and the annual production is estimated at 5 to 10 million euros. Cyprus occupies 64η position among the 200 countries included in the World Food Organization list for annual watermelon production. However, it is one of the first countries in terms of average production yield, ranging from 50 to 60 tonnes per hectare. Under favorable conditions, the production yield in Cyprus can reach up to 100 tons per hectare.
It is clear that in a highly competitive environment, Cypriot agriculture is facing many challenges. The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment makes every effort to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector. An important tool in the effort to support agriculture and the exercise of agricultural policy is the Rural Development Program. The Program has already been activated to a large extent, with the start of implementation of projects with a total budget of over 240 million euros. Just recently, 228 applications for investment in the agricultural sector were approved, amounting to € 43 million in aid. However, our main goal is to further strengthen our agricultural economy, in order to make our products of better quality and with better marketing prospects, thus enhancing the income of our farmers.
In closing, I would like to warmly congratulate the Frenaros Community Council, as well as all the organized groups of the community for organizing this beautiful event. I would also like to congratulate the farmers of the Community, who are one of the most well-known watermelon growers in our country. It is no coincidence that the Watermelon Festival was established as an institution here in Frenaros, which has a long tradition in this crop.
I wish you all a pleasant evening!
