State reaches settlement with Cyfield over Akamas roadworks as agriculture budget rises to €532 million

Nicosia, Cyprus. The state has agreed a settlement with the contractor Cyfield through the legal service after ending its contract for the first phase of road works in Akamas, a senior official told MPs. The Agriculture Ministry also presented its budget for next year, totalling €532 million.

Akamas contract

Costas Konstantinou, permanent secretary of the environment department, briefed the House finance committee, which was reviewing the ministry’s annual budget. He described the arrangement with Cyfield as an “amicable settlement” and did not disclose its terms.

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Konstantinou said the disciplinary inquiry into the widespread violations of legally binding environmental conditions is still with the legal service, and one of its officers is in charge. The inquiry has not reached a conclusion. For that reason the cabinet, which holds the authority to act, cannot yet take any step.

Budget figures

Agriculture Minister Christos Senekis set out a budget of €532 million for next year. That is €18.7 million, or 4 per cent, more than the €513.2 million allocated this year.

Water takes €230 million, equal to 43 per cent of the total, against €200 million, or 39 per cent, this year. Spending in the water market grows by €26 million, or 18 per cent, owing to new mobile desalination units and purchases of recycled water.

Desalination plans

Senekis said planning for four permanent desalination units will be finished around 2030 to 2031. Once built, they will meet more than 100 per cent of daily water needs. He said the budget reflects the priorities of “water sufficiency” and support for the primary sector.

Foot-and-mouth disease

On foot-and-mouth disease, Senekis said the main aim is to get affected livestock farms operating again as soon as possible, given the impact on public finances. No date has been set for this.