The Royal Couple of the Netherlands, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, as part of an official visit to Cyprus, accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Dr. Maria Panayiotou, visited potato farms in Xylofagou and a potato packing plant in Liopetri, signaling, as Dr. Panayiotou stated, the strong relations between the two countries, especially in the agricultural sector.
“The visit highlights the importance and significance of Cyprus’ relations with the Netherlands in the agricultural sector,” with the potato sector, as Dr. Panayiotou said in her statements after the Royal Couple’s visit to the potato packing plant, “being an excellent example that highlights this cooperation.” She then pointed out that 76% of the certified potato seeds imported into Cyprus come from the Netherlands.
Cyprus, he added, exports several hundred thousand kilos of potatoes to the Netherlands per year, specifically noting that "during the first half of 2004 we have sent more than 200 thousand kilos of potatoes to the Netherlands, worth more than €250.000."
"So you understand," continued Dr. Panayiotou, "that relations, but also cooperation with this country, are very important, especially for us, as potatoes are the third and most important agricultural product that we export."
At the same time, the Minister highlighted as very important the fact that “in addition to the visit here, we had the opportunity to have a meeting between experts from Cyprus and the Netherlands together with young farmers”. “And this”, she noted, “was very important, to demonstrate the points of interest, the excellent knowledge that we have to take from the Netherlands in the area of smart agriculture, in the area of smart irrigation systems, but also in other systems, which are necessary for Cyprus, to be able to cope with the difficult weather conditions we have, and to adapt our agriculture even more to the new data”.
He also announced that a visit to the Netherlands will take place in June with the participation of young farmers and Ministry officials, with the aim of defining the cooperation roadmap and transferring know-how to Cyprus.
Dr. Panayiotou thanked the Ministry staff and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Cyprus for organizing this important visit, emphasizing that "through the close cooperation we had, we managed to highlight even better the heritage we have in our agricultural product."
Responding to a journalist's question as to whether further cooperation agreements in the agricultural sector are expected to be signed during the visit in June, the Minister stated that she is already in discussions with her Dutch counterpart on areas of cooperation, while, as she added, visits are also planned to be made to research institutes that stand out in the agricultural sector. "This is precisely why we are going, so that we can even more easily open the communication channel of knowledge that will come from the Netherlands to Cyprus," she indicated.
Asked about the €15,5 million support package for farmers that the Ministry is preparing, Dr. Panayiotou explained that it concerns the first support package given to farmers as financial support for the loss of income they have suffered as a result of the drought. She stressed that the package has been agreed with agricultural organizations and when it is officially announced, details will be given on the amounts of money that will be allocated to the sector.
"It is important that in most sectors the emphasis is given mainly to professional farmers, so that we can support them in these difficult conditions that we are experiencing as a result of the drought," the Minister reiterated.
Socrates Pilavakis, representing the packing plant in Liopetri, referred to the questions raised by the Royal Couple during their visit there, but also to the interest shown in the various issues that concern farmers in Cyprus, in the systems and innovative practices applied in potato farming, as well as in innovative methods of spraying and irrigation.
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