A series of measures were announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Costas Kadis, in support of the farmers affected by Saturday's fires, after the meeting of the Council of Ministers.
As Mr. Kadis said, for the immediate relief and support of the farmers, who are active in the communities of Agioi Vavatsinia, Akapnous, Araka, Vavatsinia, Dieronas, Eptagonia, Melini, Odos, Oras and Sykopetra, the Council of Ministers has decided total measures.
Specifically, the payment of initial financial assistance, which will range from € 10.000 to € 30.000 per beneficiary and will concern professional farmers, with the aim of continuing their professional activity. The total cost is expected to be around € 3.000.000.
Another measure is the payment of financial support amounting to € 100.000 to the Organization of Producers, Fruits and Perishables of the "Vasiliki Gi" (Public) Ltd Road Area. This organization has a significant number of members, mainly young farmers, who are active in communities that have been severely affected by the fire.
It has been decided to immediately activate the National State Aid Framework for the reactivation of affected farmers and for the restoration of the environment in areas declared to be affected by fires.
This framework covers farms whose managed farmers are professional and / or part-time and / or amateur. Beneficiaries will receive aid for the loss of income they have suffered due to the total or partial destruction of agricultural production and means of production, as well as partial aid for the restoration / replacement of their infrastructure.
The same beneficiaries, if they wish, can, alternatively, receive aid for the restoration / replacement of their infrastructure, through the Rural Development Program, under which an extraordinary investment measure will be announced for this purpose.
It has also been decided to announce an extraordinary investment measure of the Rural Development Program, especially for the area that has been affected by the fire. The measure will cover the creation of new and possibly more modern infrastructure, replacing those that have been destroyed.
The Metro, among others, will cover farmers who have been affected by the fire, but their sector is not eligible from the Framework (apiaries, poultry farms, greenhouses), so that they can receive assistance to restore / replace their infrastructure.
For the wider support of the region, the Minister of Agriculture announced that the Department of Water Development, in cooperation with the Larnaca and Limassol District Administrations, will take immediate measures to restore the irrigation infrastructure, which has been destroyed.
Also, the Department of Forests and the Department of Water Development, in collaboration with the District Administrations of Larnaca and Limassol, will make suggestions and actions for the immediate implementation of anti-corrosion / anti-flood projects.
The Department of Environment will arrange the collection of waste that will result from the burned houses, in an area that will be agreed with each community and will supervise the transport of these materials to licensed units. The cost of managing this waste will be covered by the State.
Mr. Kadis said that under the coordination of YGAAP and in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, the General Directorate of European Programs, Coordination and Development, the General Accounting Office of the Republic and the Electricity Authority of Cyprus, a request for assistance will be prepared and submitted by the Fund European Union Solidarity, in particular to support and strengthen the affected Communities and their inhabitants.
This is the statement of the Minister of Agriculture Costas Kadis
For the immediate relief of the farmers who are active in the communities of Agioi Vavatsinia, Akapnous, Arakapa, Vavatsinia, Dieronas, Eptagonia, Melini, Odos, Oras and Sykopetra, the Council of Ministers has decided to take the following measures:
1. Payment of initial financial assistance, which will range from € 10.000 to € 30.000 per beneficiary and will concern professional farmers, with the aim of continuing their professional activity. The total cost is expected to be around € 3.000.000.
2. Payment of financial support amounting to € 100.000 to the Organization of Producers, Fruits and Perishables of the "Vasiliki Gi" Street (Public) Ltd This organization has a significant number of members, mainly young farmers, who are active in communities that have been severely affected by the fire.
3. Immediate activation of the National State Aid Framework for the reactivation of affected farmers and for the restoration of the environment in areas declared to be affected by fires. This framework covers farms whose managed farmers are professional and / or part-time and / or amateur. Beneficiaries will receive aid for the loss of income they have suffered due to the total or partial destruction of agricultural production and means of production, as well as partial aid for the restoration / replacement of their infrastructure. The same beneficiaries, if they wish, can, alternatively, receive aid for the restoration / replacement of their infrastructure, through the Rural Development Program, under which an extraordinary investment measure will be announced for this purpose.
4. Announcement of an extraordinary investment measure of the Rural Development Program, especially for the area that has been affected by the fire. The measure will cover the creation of new and possibly more modern infrastructure, replacing those that have been destroyed. The Metro, among others, will cover farmers who have been affected by the fire but their industry is not eligible by the Framework (apiaries, poultry farms, greenhouses), so that they can receive assistance to restore / replace their infrastructure.
5. For the wider support of the region:
A. The Water Development Department, in cooperation with the Larnaca and Limassol District Administrations, will take immediate measures to restore the irrigation infrastructure that has been destroyed.
B. The Department of Forests and the Department of Water Development, in collaboration with the District Administrations of Larnaca and Limassol, will make suggestions and actions for the immediate implementation of anti-corrosion / flood protection projects.
C. The Department of Environment will arrange the collection of waste that will result from the burned houses, in an area that will be agreed with each community and will supervise the transport of these materials to licensed units. The cost of managing this waste will be covered by the State.
6. Under the coordination of YGAAP and in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, the General Directorate of European Programs, Coordination and Development, the General Accounting Office of the Republic and the Electricity Authority of Cyprus, a request for assistance will be prepared and submitted by the European Union Solidarity Fund , especially to support and strengthen the affected Communities and their inhabitants.