The rural people must and will be supported by the state, said today the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Costas Kadis, adding that among the intentions of the Ministry is the installation of anti-hail systems throughout Cyprus.
See the footage with the statements recorded by Famagusta.News camera:
In statements after a visit to the areas affected by the hail that fell yesterday in areas of Protaras and Paralimni, the Minister said that "given the appearance of such extreme weather phenomena as hail is in the thoughts and intentions of the Ministry in the new program period of the Common Agricultural Policy, ie from 2021 - 2027, to include in our investment programs the installation of anti-hail systems beyond the mountainous areas and throughout Cyprus ".
"In this way, the specific area that we have seen in recent years is affected by several extreme weather events will be covered," he said.
He added that "we believe that this will be a more stable solution to the problem that will relieve our farmers and we are moving in this direction."
Answering a relevant question, Mr. Kadis said that "our presence here today aims to see for ourselves the damage that in some cases seems to be universal and on the other hand to send the message of support to the rural world of the region."
Already, he added, "as of yesterday, the officials of the Department of Agriculture were in the area and began to record in the first phase the areas that have been affected and we call on the farmers who have suffered damage to submit their forms, so that it can be done within the next days a more specialized assessment, to start the compensation process ".
The Minister also noted that "on the issue of compensation, the relevant legislation was recently passed by the Parliament, which covers all farmers and the farmers who were consistent in not being afraid of anything will receive the support provided by the legislation". In fact, he continued, "the guidelines given to the officials of the Department of Agriculture are where there is no doubt that it is always in favor of the farmer, because we really want to support our rural people, who are currently receiving the pandemic blows, now he also receives the blows from a catastrophe ".
Costas Kadis sent the message that "the rural world must and will be supported by the state and we must declare our support for the tested farmers of the region."
To another question, the Minister answered that "in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the government took 27 so many measures to support our farmers and for many of these measures the support will come in the next few days. "Our farmers have to receive support and support will follow for the damage they have suffered."
These issues, he continued, "are managed by the same people in the Ministry and the workload is really high, but I am sure that we will meet the time frames that our farmers expect so that the support they expect comes in time."
On behalf of the agricultural organizations, the President of Panagrotikos, Tasos Giapanis, stated that "essentially the plan that was made after consultation with the rural world and agricultural organizations, came in last year and gave us the right to be a little more flexible and because it was the first year its implementation ". "This year the law will be strictly enforced so that we are okay with our obligations as farmers but at the same time demand from the state to be by our side," he said.
Therefore, he continued, as agricultural organizations we demand strict application of the law itself ".
Famagusta.News / KYPE