Nicosia, Cyprus. MPs on Tuesday called on the government to temporarily suspend charges on farmers for using water from boreholes, amid complaints that new enforcement and retroactive billing could force farmers out of business.
Water abstraction fee and retroactive demands
The government charges a “water abstraction fee” for the use of water from boreholes, intended as a disincentive to protect the water table from over-pumping and pollution. Farmers said the rule had not been enforced until now and that they are being asked to pay retroactively for the past nine years.
Parliamentarians heard that farmers have recently received notices from authorities requesting payment of overdue fees since 2017. The bills, due by early April, range from a few thousand euro to more than €100,000 in some cases.
Committee chair cites pressure on agriculture
House agriculture committee chair Giannakis Gavriel said the timing could not be worse, citing high electricity costs and increased prices for fertilizers and pesticides, compounded by recent years of drought.
He said water cutbacks could lead to a major decline in production and farmers’ income, and criticised the issuance of letters demanding tens of thousands of euro from farmers.
Call for suspension
The Akel MP called on the government to suspend levying the fee until the situation improves.
How will the retroactive water abstraction fees affect your ability to continue farming?
