The electronic platforms for the distribution of agricultural products were presented on Thursday, aiming to connect the producers directly with the consumer, utilizing the technology.
The electronic platforms for the distribution of agricultural products were presented at a press conference, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment and the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy.
The Minister of Agriculture, Costas Kadis, in his greeting stated that this is a joint effort of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy to connect producers and consumers with technology and electronic platforms, alternative means of selling agricultural products.
"This initiative", he added, "makes it fairer to promote products directly from the producer to the consumer, since in this way virtually no intermediaries are intervened, unfair practices are avoided and the producer's income is improved." In addition, this initiative contributes to the digital awareness of a significant number of farmers ".
Describing the use of new technologies in the agricultural sector as a high priority for the Ministry, Mr. Kadis noted that the pandemic gave the impetus to take faster steps in specific directions, with the cooperation with the Ministry of Innovation being a catalyst.
As he said, consumers can now secure from the electronic platforms fresh, quality products, such as fruits, vegetables, fruits, dairy, etc.
"The process is simple: Visit the website of the Ministry of Agriculture and see the platforms that participate in this initiative and which we present today," he concluded.
See the agricultural product distribution platforms here
For his part, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Kyriakos Kokkinos stressed the important role that technology has played in the effective management of both the crisis in public health and the socio-economic impact of the pandemic.
"Our goal is to create the conditions and infrastructure that will be the foundation for the digital leap of Cypriot agriculture, but also to promote research activity in this field," he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Agricultural Organizations, the Assistant Secretary General of PEK, Christos Papapetrou, welcomed this initiative and added: “As of today, our producers officially have at their disposal a new tool, a new means of selling their agricultural products. directly to consumers, so that both producers and consumers benefit, as they will not pay for the profits of intermediaries. At the same time, the producer will be paid for his efforts ".
Finally, on behalf of the Development Companies, the head of the Larnaca Famagusta Provinces Development Company, Anna Kosma, said that in the difficult period we are going through, the Development Companies did not remain uninvolved in the call of the Ministry of Agriculture and supported the farmers. support services, so that they can smoothly and effectively integrate and promote their products through online platforms.