Nicosia, Cyprus. Potato farmers are asking the state for a subsidy to cover damages suffered in 2025 from heatwaves, frost and drought, and are also requesting additional water for nighttime irrigation during freezing conditions, the potato producers’ association said.
Association president Andreas Karyos said recent low temperatures led the group to seek water from the agriculture ministry for large potato crops to help avert frost damage.
Request for nighttime irrigation
Karyos said the association asked the agriculture ministry to provide water so producers could irrigate at night during freezing conditions to prevent frost damage.
He said the ministry informed them that water cannot be provided due to a water shortage. He urged the state to treat water allocations for potato growers with seriousness if freezing temperatures persist in the coming months.
Water allocations and cuts
Karyos said the agriculture minister stated on Friday that farmers, including greenhouse operators, tree crop growers and banana producers, will receive 30 per cent less water than last year.
He added that open-field and potato crops, which received no water last year, have been told they will receive none this year either.
Subsidy request and costs
On state subsidies for potato farming, Karyos said 2025 was one of the worst years the sector has faced, with sharply rising costs for producers.
He said potato prices have been reasonable for consumers for the past eight months but have not covered producers’ expenses, and that state support is needed to sustain production, exports and supply for Cypriot consumers.
What measures should the state take to address potato farmers’ requests for water and subsidies?
