The Minister said that the agricultural sector helps to maintain the social fabric in rural areas
The Cypriot agricultural sector represents, in absolute numbers, a small part of the GDP, but it affects various other sectors of the economy such as manufacturing, tourism, etc., thus providing added value, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development said on Saturday and Environment, Petros Xenophontos at the 44th Cherry Dance, in Platanistasa.
The Minister added that the agricultural sector contributes to maintaining the social fabric in rural areas and limiting urbanization and desertification. Besides, the practice of agricultural activity protects and preserves the natural environment and the landscape, and contributes to limiting the effect of climate change, he added.
As conditions have developed in recent years, Cypriot agriculture is facing many challenges, he noted. The Government and the Ministry of Agriculture, he added, taking into account these facts, intends to continue its multifaceted action and make every possible effort to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.
“For the support of agricultural activity and the sustainable development of the countryside, the role of the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027, which foresees a total funding of 454 million euros, is expected to be decisive. The Strategic Plan includes measures and regimes that promote the sustainability and competitiveness of farmers while, at the same time, they aim to mitigate environmental problems and address climate change,” he said.
Mr. Dimosthenous stated that they are determined to breathe new life into the agricultural sector, chart a new path that meets the needs and addresses the real problems of the rural world. “Our goal is to support rural communities, so that they remain vibrant centers of economic, social and cultural development, combining agriculture, tourism and sustainability,” he noted.
He thanked the “Achilleas Platanistasas” Association for the Cherry Dance, spoke about Platanistasa and noted that the cherry is a fairly important crop for Cyprus, especially in the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas. According to the most recent figures of the Statistical Service, he said, the cultivated areas with cherries in Cyprus amount to approximately 230 hectares with their production value amounting to approximately 1.6 million euros.
