Famagusta MP Michalis Giorgallas, G.G. of the Agricultural Organization "Euroagrotikos", Lambros Achilleos and the President of OGA visited SEDIGEP Paralimni and discussed with farmers about the problems faced by the industry.
In the meeting that followed, the problems related to water, insurance and marketing of agricultural products were heard in detail. What is of great concern at this time, in addition to the above, is the changes adopted by the Ministry of Interior for foreign workers.
Mr. Giorgallas promised to investigate the whole matter and to return within a week. Mr. Giorgallas had a telephone conversation with all the competent bodies on the issue, at the time of the meeting. Today we expect results.
The Secretary General handed over a copy of a letter, which was sent to the President of the Republic and the Minister of Agriculture, with suggestions on how to solve the serious problem of water shortage. The proposal mentioned in the letter is the declaration of Cyprus in a state of emergency of water, so that the State can bypass time consuming procedures in the issue of installation of a Desalination Unit in Paphos.
Mr. Giorgallas stated that if the Government is not activated immediately and quickly, we will not have sufficient quantities of water in the next two years.
As far as the Insurance is concerned, the President of OGA, Mr. Andreas Tsiaklis, gave an extensive briefing on the prescribed changes with the abolition of the Organization and the upgrade of the institution.
As MP Giorgallas explained, there are ways to find solutions to farmers' concerns regarding compulsory insurance by concluding contracts and staggered insurance depending on the risks.
Conclusions of the Euro-agricultural conference
Moreover, during the 4th Pan-Cypriot Conference of the Euro-agricultural held on Monday 18 May, in a decision, he authorized the Executive Secretariat of the Euro-agricultural, to hand over to the President of the Republic, the Speaker of Parliament, the Minister of Agriculture and the Ministry of Agriculture , in the Department of Water Development, as well as in the Parliamentary parties, the following 3 conclusions in the form of a resolution, which was approved by 4ο Pancyprian Conference.
The decision of the conference took into account the fact that from 1η. In July, the taps for water supply to farmers have been closed. Along with the taps, as stated in the resolution of the Conference, the destruction of thousands of families will occur since they will be forced to stop all agricultural activities for the rest of the year.
"It is not fair, says a relevant announcement, nor humanitarianly correct, the cost of the timeless lack of strategy and proper management of this National wealth, to be called to shoulder only the farmer. The other economic sectors of the Cypriot society, but also the households, not only will not feel cuts, but will not realize the seriousness of the situation, precisely because of the uninterrupted water supply. ”
"It is an oxymoron, the conference announcement continues, on the one hand the Tourism industry has a continuous supply of water and the 4 million tourists and enjoy the good of water without interruption with the result that the Hotelier and the restaurant continue to conduct profitable business and At the same time, the hotel food industry should not use, in the slightest, Cypriot agricultural products for the needs of feeding tourists. The uninterrupted business activity of the hotel and other food industries is due to the complete cut-off of their basic raw material, water, to farmers. "
As an Agricultural Organization, Euroagrotikos presented the following views and suggestions for alleviating the problem and at the same time suggested actions for the detachment of Cyprus from the weather phenomena regarding water:
- Declaration of Cyprus in a state of emergency regarding the water.
- Reaffirmation that water is a NATIONAL WEALTH like Natural Gas.
With the above two measures, according to Euro-Agricultural, the state will be able to:
- Move smoothly without interventions and legal obstacles in the installation of desalination plants, especially in Paphos. The announcement notes that the water that will be produced from the desalination should not be drinking (it costs 0,90 euros per ton) but water for irrigation (which costs 035 euros per ton).
- To oblige water bottling operators to channel quantities of water into the nearest water project of their facilities, equal to the amount of bottling.
- To reduce by 20%, even for psychological reasons, the water supply to households. We estimate that 30% of the water supply is not used for residential needs.
- To connect the purchase of Cypriot products from the hotel units and the feeding points, on the basis that they will have a continuous supply of water, by upgrading the category of the hotel units, perhaps with a special brand just like the stars.
- Accelerate work on the use of recycled water which can give us significant amounts of water.
The announcement points out that "the cessation of the activity of about 1.000 farmers will have a chain effect on both the farmers themselves and at the same time on the state and the local economy in general, as another 1.000 unemployed will be created by the State, the lack of agricultural products The market will push prices up, the chain that connects farmers with other agro-supply companies will be adversely affected, imports will be forced to meet needs, we will lose exports and customers of agricultural products. "
Regarding the long-term development of the National Water Policy, the Euro-agricultural company suggests:
- Infrastructure and dams in Western Nicosia river Peristeronas and Karkotis river, as well as Paphos.
- Creation of riparian reservoirs in the semi-mountains and mountains of V. Pitsilia.
- Installation of private low cost desalination plants for use by groups of farmers.
- Special plans for replacement of old technology or installation of modern irrigation systems.
Famagusta.News