Paphos, Cyprus. Farmers in the Paphos district have called off a planned protest over water shortages after an intervention by Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou. Organisers said the minister contacted them personally and arranged a meeting next week.
Protest cancelled after minister contacts organisers
According to the protest organisers, Panayiotou contacted them and scheduled a meeting for next week to discuss farmers’ concerns about the quantities of irrigation water they are due to receive this year.
Concerns over reduced irrigation water allocations
The farmers had planned to protest on Monday morning to voice concerns over significantly reduced water quantities expected to be available for irrigation this summer. Producers said the quantities to be allocated are less than the already reduced amounts they received last year.
Planned location and reasons cited by farmers
The planned gathering was to take place on the road to Paphos airport, at the junction with the old Paphos-Limassol road. Farmers said the Water Development Department seeks to maintain water reserves in reservoirs, which they said directly affects agriculture in the Paphos district.
Warnings over crop losses
Farmers highlighted what they described as a serious risk of crop destruction, saying the situation has reached breaking point.
How do you think the irrigation water allocations should be managed to protect crops in the Paphos district?
