In front of the students, the Minister of Agriculture stressed the need to put the agriculture and livestock of our country on a scientific and professional basis, something that he had set as a goal by assuming his duties.
"The farmer today is both a producer and manager of his agricultural products, but also a protector of the natural environment of our place, while he must be transformed into a flexible entrepreneur, who through the study plans his activities and production to meet modern needs ", stressed Mr. Kougialis.
Referring to the agricultural sector in Cyprus, Mr. Kougialis stated that, although it represents, in numbers, a small part of our country's economy, it nevertheless has a significant impact on other sectors of the economy, thus multiplying its value.
The Minister also referred to the Common Agricultural Policy, which provides tools for the design of national agricultural policy. Special mention was made of the Rural Development Program 2014-2020, through which significant incentives are provided to all those who wish to engage professionally in agriculture and the Direct Hectoral Payments given to those who cultivate agricultural land.
The main issues, which were raised by the students, concerned the prospects of the subject of their studies both as scientists and as professionals in the field and asked the Minister to be treated differently in their choice to participate in the measures of the Rural Development Program. . The Minister, responding to the requests of the students, stated that all the perspectives for differentiation of the treatment of the graduates of the Technical Agricultural Schools for participation in the various programs of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment will be examined.