The government will continue to implement its pro-farming policy and support in every possible way the agricultural sector, said Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Petros Xenophontos, adding that every effort is being made to address the new challenges by improving the competitiveness of the agricultural sector and that the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027 provides for a total funding of 454 million euros.

In his address at the 3rd Carrot Festival held on Saturday evening in Liopetri, the Minister said that the agricultural sector in Cyprus “represents, in numbers, a small part of the GDP, but it has a significant impact on the other sectors of the economy, thus multiplying its value.”

He also noted that “in order to support agricultural activity and the sustainable development of rural areas, the role of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan 2023-2027, which provides for a total funding of pound 454 million, is expected to be decisive, as it includes measures and schemes that promote the sustainability and competitiveness of farmers while aiming at mitigating environmental problems and tackling climate change.

At the same time, he continued, “in line with EU policies, the Ministry of Agriculture attaches particular importance to the extension of actions to reorganise and improve the operation of the agricultural sector.” According to Xenophonots examples include the reform agricultural production risk management, as well as legislation to tackle unfair commercial practices in the supply chain of agricultural products and foodstuffs, and the improvement of the operation of farmers’ markets for the benefit of our farmers.

The Minister of Agriculture also assured that “the government will continue to implement its pro-farming policy and support our farming community in every possible way”.

Source: Cyprus News Agency