The announcement of the Major Investment Measure of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027, totaling 67,5 million euros, of which 7,5 million concern the special intervention for the first installation of young farmers, was announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou.
In her speech at the 11th Meeting of the RDP 2014-2020 Monitoring Committee and the 4th Meeting of the CAP Strategic Plan Monitoring Committee, which took place today at the Athienou Municipal Hall, Ms. Panagiotou also announced the creation of a special financial facility by the Cyprus Electricity Authority for professional farmers who want to submit an application for the installation of photovoltaic systems connected to the grid.
In her speech, the Minister said that this year's meeting coincides with World Environment Day "and is an excellent opportunity to focus on the environmental dimension of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) as well as the impacts of climate change on the exercise of agricultural activity."
In this context, he continued, “for the first time in a Large Investment, we are applying a very high rate of aid for environmental costs, reaching 80% of the eligible cost, something we have already applied in the Small Investment.” This, he added, “demonstrates our commitment to both environmental sustainability and the sector’s resilience to climate change.”
As he stated, "the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 has a strong environmental orientation as reflected, mainly, in the ecological programs and agri-environmental interventions that are implemented."
Through its recent revision, adopted by the Commission in December, it has been further strengthened with additional environmentally friendly actions, he noted.
He also stated that "in order to achieve substantial support for farmers, we, as Cyprus, are requesting the updating of the existing mechanisms of the Common Agricultural Policy so that they can respond to the new data."
In her speech, the Minister of Agriculture referred to the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which begins on January 1, 2026, saying that our goal is "to ensure that the new CAP takes adequate account of the need to adopt adaptation and mitigation mechanisms for the impacts of climate change, with particular emphasis on sustainable water management."
Referring to the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027, she said that this provides for "the announcement for the first time of an intervention for the granting of financial aid for the use of RES by irrigation associations and the granting of aid for the free acquisition of chippers by our rural communities, especially in areas with a high risk of fire."
He noted that "the interest of the rural community in the small investment exceeded expectations, since the eligible applications correspond to a total amount of 12,7 million euros compared to the 10 million euros initially set as a target."
At the same time, he announced that the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment decided to approve all eligible applications by increasing the initial budget of the measure. “In this way, we are sending a strong message of support for agriculture, while promoting the goals set in the Strategy for the primary sector,” he said, noting that he had asked “the Commissioner of the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Agency to immediately begin sending the relevant approvals to the beneficiaries.”
Dr. Panayiotou also announced "the announcement of the Major Investment Measure of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 for a total amount of 67,5 million euros, of which 7,5 million concern the special intervention for the first installation of young farmers."
He also said that "the innovations associated with the Great Investment are many and reflect the priority that the primary sector has for the government of Nikos Christodoulides."
He also stated that "only those registered in the Register of Farmers and Agricultural Holdings are beneficiaries of the Large Investment Fund, while for the first time the Large Investment Fund is associated with a significant easing of licensing requirements and with the acceleration of procedures through special conditions in consultation with the Ministry of the Interior and other competent services."
He added that "for the first time, an amount is being allocated per priority with separate points, ensuring the implementation of the objectives of the new Strategy and the approval of the best applications per production sector."
As the Minister of Agriculture said, "simplified cost procedures are also being implemented for specific actions where this is feasible and appropriate, in order to speed up the evaluation time of applications." Furthermore, she added, the installation of rational water use systems is becoming mandatory in agricultural units exceeding 25 acres, while for the first time in a large investment, we are applying a support rate for environmental costs that reaches 80% of the total cost.
He also continued, "we are doubling the amount of aid for livestock waste management from 400 thousand euros to 800 thousand, while with an 80% subsidy, we are effectively addressing the increased cost of production and strengthening the infrastructure that protects crops through permanent infrastructure and investments such as Renewable Energy Sources, the installation of active protection systems for anti-hail and anti-rain protection, smart irrigation systems and investments that contribute to saving irrigation water."
The Minister of Agriculture also announced that with the aim of "effectively reducing production costs and increasing the use of renewable energy sources, the Cyprus Electricity Authority will create a special financial facility for professional farmers who wish to apply for the installation of photovoltaic systems connected to the grid."
In particular, he pointed out, the subsidy for the installation of RES, which is at 80%, will not require the advance payment of the amount with own resources, since this will be paid through financing from the EAC.
He also stated that, with the aim of "increasing the production of goat and sheep milk, we are promoting the creation of new large goat and sheep farms as well as the upgrading of existing ones. The amount that has been determined for Priority 3, namely 29,5 million euros, is indicative of the importance attributed to this important sector."
Dr. Panayiotou called on all "interested parties to study the tender documents which are already posted online and to prepare themselves appropriately in order to submit mature, quality applications that improve the overall performance and competitiveness of our agricultural sector in a sustainable and climate-resilient manner."
The Ministry of Agriculture, concluded Dr. Panayiotou, "is in constant consultation with all the stakeholders involved, the members of the Monitoring Committee and especially with the agricultural organizations, with the aim of implementing interventions appropriately adapted to the needs of our country for the benefit of our society and the rural world."
Source: KYPE
