The Council of Ministers today approved the allocation of an additional quantity of 3,5 million cubic meters of irrigation water for the remainder of 2026.
As reported by the competent Minister Christos Senekkis, of this quantity, 3 million cubic meters will be made available from the Unified Southern Pipeline Plan and 500 thousand cubic meters from the Great Paphos Irrigation Project.
Of the additional quantity of the Southern Pipeline, 2 million cubic meters will be allocated for autumn seasonal crops, including potato cultivation, and 1 million cubic meters for tree crops.
The decision is based on updated factual data and the technical assessment of the Department of Water Development. The additional inflows recorded in the Unified Plan for the Southern Pipeline following the decision of the Council of Ministers last June, combined with the evolution of water consumption, created a limited margin for targeted support for agricultural production.
I want to be absolutely clear, however: today's decision does not mean that the problem of water scarcity has been overcome, nor that the need for prudent water management is removed. The additional concession will be implemented under strict monitoring of consumption and any deviation or excess will be addressed with the prescribed corrective measures.
The Government proves in practice that it listens to the documented needs of the agricultural world and, when the actual data allows it, intervenes with responsibility and determination.
We support agricultural production, but we do not risk the country's water security. We utilize every available margin with moderation, technical documentation, transparency and strict control.
