Newsroom
Potato growers are urging the government to provide financial support after severe weather conditions caused major losses during 2025. According to representatives of the sector, extreme heat, frost, prolonged drought, and water scarcity significantly increased production costs and reduced income, placing many farmers under serious financial pressure.
The President of the Association of Organized Potato Growers, Andreas Karyos, explained that producers are also requesting access to irrigation water during nights with frost, a practice that can protect crops from freezing damage. However, authorities have informed growers that water shortages make this impossible at present.
Mr. Karyos stressed that while drought conditions are acknowledged, the state should examine the possibility of allocating limited water supplies to potato growers during periods of extreme cold, in order to prevent further crop losses in the coming months.
He also referred to recent statements by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, who announced that water allocations for several agricultural sectors would be reduced by 30% compared to last year. Open-field crops, including potatoes, which received no water allocation last year, are not expected to receive any this year either.
Describing 2025 as one of the most difficult years on record for potato cultivation, Mr. Karyos said weather-related damage caused costs to surge. While retail potato prices have remained relatively affordable for consumers for several months, they do not reflect the financial strain faced by producers.
Growers argue that state support is essential to sustain production, preserve export activity, and ensure continued supply to the domestic market. They note that a subsidy granted in 2024 helped offset part of the increased costs, and they are now seeking discussions with the government to determine compensation for losses incurred in 2025.
According to Mr. Karyos, talks were held with the Minister in October, with an understanding that further discussions would follow once damage assessments were completed. However, no follow-up meeting has yet taken place. He emphasized that compensation levels must be agreed through dialogue, as ministry officials alone cannot assess farmers’ lost income and rising expenses.
If a meeting is not arranged soon, potato growers intend to contact the Minister directly to schedule consultations involving both political leadership and technical experts.
Mr. Karyos also noted that potato supplies from the occupied areas have not reached the free areas in the past two years due to insufficient quantities, while imports from Turkey are not taking place. Instead, imports are coming from other European countries, where production costs are lower because water is more readily available.
Finally, he pointed out that although Cypriot potatoes supplied to hotels and supermarkets carry higher production costs, growers are unable to set prices that fully cover their expenses. Potato prices have remained stable for several months, with only a slight increase following the transition from the old harvest to the new one, allowing consumers to choose between lower-priced older stock and higher-priced fresh produce.
