The aim is to expedite the assessment of the damages suffered by farmers, with the payment of aid to those affected as soon as possible, Andreas Grigoriou, Director General of the General Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, told CNA.
Asked about the damage suffered by crops due to low temperatures in recent days, due to the bad weather "Coral", Mr. Grigoriou replied that "the issuance of relevant announcements has begun, which meet the provisions of the National Framework for granting state aid for damage from adverse climatic phenomena, with which the affected farmers will be able to submit the relevant Damage Declaration forms to the local District Offices of the Department of Agriculture."
He continued, "announcements have been issued for the submission of a Declaration of Damage to spring potatoes from frost. Specifically for the Nicosia district for the communities of Avlona, Orounda, Potami, Nikitari, Vyzakia, Kato Koutrafas, Agios Epiphanios Soleas and Agios Ioannis Maloundas, with a submission deadline of March 12, 2025."
He added that "in the Larnaca district and the free zone of Famagusta, the announcements concern the entire area of potato cultivation, with a submission deadline of March 13, 2025." As for the Paphos district, the communities of Agia Varvara, Anarita, Geroskipou, Achelia, Mandria, Timi, Kouklia, Emba and Kissonerga are included, with a submission deadline of March 13, 2025, he said.
As Mr. Grigoriou stated, "possible damages are still being examined, both in other potato-growing areas and in other seasonal crops (such as vegetables) or tree crops (such as medlars, etc.) and relevant announcements are expected to be issued in the coming days."
He also noted that "as the low temperatures may continue for a few more days, the situation will continue to be closely monitored, while at the same time calling on farmers to monitor the condition of their plantations, and in the event of any potential damage, to inform the local District Offices of the Department of Agriculture, with a view to a brief assessment of their requests."
Our goal, said Mr. Grigoriou, "is to provide all possible support to the affected farmers and to expedite the assessment of the damages by paying the aid to the affected as soon as possible. To this end, as early as the morning of Monday, February 24, teams of the Department of Agriculture have been in the rural areas and are conducting tours for an immediate initial assessment of the damages, in all the provinces," he noted.
Moreover, Andreas Karyos, representative of the Pancyprian Potato Producers' Coordination, told CNA that "on the evening of Tuesday, February 25, things were better since the temperature did not drop below one degree below zero. However, the growers stayed awake for another night, watering their plantations in order to protect them from frost."
He also expressed the hope that "last night would be the last during which, due to the bad weather 'Coral' that hit Cyprus in recent days, farmers were desperately trying to save their crops."
Source: KYPE
