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The bitter cold brought by the Coral weather system has left Cyprus' farmers reeling as frost has destroyed their hard-earned crops overnight. Potato fields, vegetable patches, melon plantations, and fruit trees have been hit hard, leaving producers counting their losses and scrambling to salvage what they can.
“Months of Work Gone in One Night”
The devastation has sparked an emotional response from farmers, with many taking to social media to share heartbreaking images of their frozen fields. "How hard it is to see your efforts wasted overnight," one farmer wrote on Cyprus Weatherfiles, posting photos of crops encased in ice. "You struggle for months, and then a frost brings disaster."
A Desperate Fight Against the Cold
For days, farmers have been working around the clock to protect their crops. In a last-ditch attempt to minimize losses, many have been watering their fields throughout the night, hoping to insulate their plants. But in some cases, the water itself is turning to ice before it can do its job.
"In these harsh conditions, potato farmers across Cyprus have been on high alert every night," said Andreas Karyos from the Pancyprian Group of Potato Producers. "As soon as temperatures drop to zero or even one degree, we start the machines to spray water over the plants until the sun comes up."
However, not all crops can be protected this way. Some farmers are forced to sacrifice smaller crops and focus on saving the largest potatoes to minimize their financial losses.
Even with these efforts, the freezing temperatures—dropping as low as -4°C in some areas—have already caused significant damage, especially in Famagusta, Paphos, and even parts of Nicosia.
Racing Against Time
Farmers expect to continue their frost-fighting efforts until at least Wednesday, hoping to salvage what they can. Meanwhile, they are urging authorities to step up support.
"We thank the Agriculture Minister and the Water Development Department for providing water during these critical nights," Karyos said. "But we ask them to start the water flow an hour earlier—every extra hour makes a difference."
Video from KairoPhili Cyprus
Water Shortages Add to the Crisis
Beyond the frost, another major challenge is water supply. Farmers’ unions are calling for emergency measures to ensure they have enough water to continue their efforts.
"This is a crisis situation," said Tassos Yapanis, General Secretary of Panagrotikos. "We are asking the Water Development Department to provide extra water—without counting it against farmers’ usual allowances—so they have a real chance to save their crops."
Full Extent of Damage Still Unknown
The situation remains dire, with entire families rushing to the fields to protect their crops. In Kiti, for example, melon farmers spent Sunday covering their plants with double layers of nylon to trap heat and prevent freezing.
"We won’t know the full scale of the damage for a few more days," said Panicos Hambas of the Cyprus Farmers' Union. "But one thing is clear—every farmer in Cyprus is in a battle right now, fighting not just against the frost, but against a lack of resources."
