Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus is setting up a network of 10 meteorological stations to collect data for targeted services for the agricultural sector as part of the Dig.I.Water project on smart irrigation and resilient agriculture. The initiative also covers Crete and the Aegean islands.
Project scope and cooperation
Digital innovations for islands’ crop water efficiency and resilience, known as Dig.I.Water, aims to promote sustainable water management and help agriculture adapt to the effects of climate change. On Tuesday, Dig.I.Water said installations in Cyprus are at an advanced stage, strengthening cross-border cooperation between Greece and Cyprus.
Digital platform
An open digital platform using state-of-the-art technology will provide reliable and specialised information to producers, local authorities and decision-making centres.
Station network and locations
After the first meteorological station was established in Cyprus, the network entered what the project described as a “more mature phase,” with 10 new stations in key rural areas: Evrychou, Saittas, Athalassa, Vavatsina, Tochni, Xylotymbou, Achna, Kiti, Achelia and Argaka. The stations are intended to cover different microclimates and agronomical conditions from coastal to mountainous areas.
Altitudes and data use
Kiti is the lowest altitude site at 10m and Saittas the highest at 636m. The data collected will be incorporated into the project’s digital platform to support precision services for agriculture, including information on weather, irrigation needs, microclimate monitoring and evaluation of factors affecting crop resilience.
Expected benefits and policy support
The project said the services are intended to help producers make educated decisions, limit water waste and improve the viability of agricultural practices. Dig.I.Water also aims to support policy drafting and advise agriculture on better crop management on islands affected by climate changeability.
How do you think access to localised microclimate data could change irrigation decisions for producers in Cyprus?
