The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment (MARD) announced the full implementation of the provisions of the Establishment of a Register of Farmers and Agricultural Holdings (Amendment) Law of 2026, with the aim of simplifying registration procedures, removing practical difficulties that had been identified during the implementation of the existing framework and expanding the possibility of more farmers and agricultural holdings participating in the Register.
It is also reported that in 2023 only 2.407 natural and legal persons were registered, of which only 497 were professional farmers, while today approximately 7.700 natural and legal persons have been registered, including approximately 2.000 professional farmers.
It is clarified that the Register of Farmers and Agricultural Holdings constitutes the main agricultural policy tool of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Rural Affairs, both for the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy and for the implementation of various national support plans for farmers.
The announcement also adds that, at the initiative of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, the Register was utilized for the first time as an essential tool for implementing agricultural policy and not only as a means of recording farmers and farms, but was also directly linked to the granting of targeted aid and the implementation of important support measures.
In this context, today it is the main criterion for participation in special Plans implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Rural Affairs, such as Measure 23 to address the effects of drought, the Rural Electricity Subsidy Plan and the financial support plans for the purchase of fertilizers and agricultural supplies, the announcement states.
Among other things, the Amending Law provides the possibility of registration in the category of New First-Establishment Farmers to legal entities that participate in the relevant measure of the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organization (CAPO) and continue to meet its conditions, reduces from seven to five years the required period of payment of contributions for the registration of retired farmers, fishermen and aquaculture farmers in the relevant category of the Registry and extends the possibility of registration to include resettled persons.
It also significantly reduces the required registration time in the Employers' Register of the Social Insurance Services for legal entities active in agriculture, from twelve months or two years, as the case may be, to three months, provides the possibility of registering amateur farmers not only as natural persons, but also through legal entities and cooperatives, expands the participation criteria of cooperatives, including retired farmers who had practiced agricultural activity before their retirement, creates a new category for legal entities exclusively engaged in agricultural activity, 50% of whose share capital is held by persons employed in them and paying contributions as employees, and creates a new category for natural persons who meet the required criteria, but whose income tax return is pending submission or tax audit.
It is also reported that the Department of Agriculture has completed, in collaboration with all involved Government Departments, the necessary adjustments to the information system, so that the provisions of the amending Law can be fully implemented, and at this stage it is being implemented normally.
The Department of Agriculture has already informed, with a relevant announcement, farmers who have not yet registered in the Registry, so that they can proceed as soon as possible to submit an electronic application for registration in the Registry and be able to take advantage of the measures and support plans implemented by the Ministry, it is finally stated.
Source: KYPE
