Nicosia, Cyprus. Farmers are set to confront the agriculture ministry on Monday after a cabinet decision to allocate an additional 3.5 million cubic metres of irrigation water failed to ease concerns over shortages.
The cabinet approved the release of 3.5 million cubic metres of irrigation water, allocating two million cubic metres to the Paphos irrigation project and 1.5 million cubic metres to the southern conveyor system.
Concerns over distribution
While the measure was intended to provide relief during a year of severe water scarcity, farming representatives said the distribution had intensified perceptions of inequality between districts.
According to Reporter, farmers said Larnaca and Famagusta had been placed at a disadvantage despite the southern conveyor system serving a significantly larger agricultural area.
Uncertainty for growers
Potato growers in Kokkinochoria have expressed concern over whether sufficient water will be available to sustain production through the growing season.
Officials from farming organisations said irrigation supplies for olive groves and fruit orchards were already approaching exhaustion.
Fears over summer reserves
Producers said available reserves might not be sufficient to last until the end of the summer, raising concerns over crop losses and reduced agricultural output.
Farmers have repeatedly warned that reduced irrigation threatens permanent crops, risks undermining food production, and increases costs across the sector.
Association statement
Pan-agricultural association secretary-general Tasos Yiapanis said water remained the most urgent issue facing farmers.
“It is not possible to have reserves of the order of 121 million cubic metres and not be able to allocate another two million cubic metres of water for potato cultivation,” he told Reporter.
