Newsroom
Farmers across Cyprus are sounding the alarm over soaring electricity costs and dwindling water supplies, warning that recent state aid will barely make a dent.
The Council of Ministers approved €1 million in emergency aid to help subsidize electricity bills for the period from July 2024 to August 2025. But Thomas Thomas, District Secretary of the Nicosia Kyrenia Agricultural Society, says the funding only covers a tiny fraction of what farmers are paying to keep crops alive. Speaking on SPORT FM 95.00’s Diaspora News, he emphasized the scale of the problem: “Almost all crops in all regions are at risk. Because the dams were left without water, farmers are spending huge sums just to keep their crops alive. This aid is welcome, but it’s not a long-term solution.”
Thomas called for a coordinated, strategic plan to address the ongoing water shortages, describing the issue as “timeless” and a threat to food security on the island.
The frustration is spilling over into action. On Thursday, Dec. 19, Cypriot farmers will join a pan-European strike to protest the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, which they say siphons funds from farmers to defense spending. Demonstrations will culminate in Nicosia with a march to the Presidential Palace, where farmers will submit a resolution to the President, before ending at the House of Europe.
“This is about survival,” Thomas said. “We will not tolerate policies that leave farmers on the brink. If nothing changes, agriculture in Cyprus could be wiped out.”
