Newsroom
Cyprus is entering its fourth consecutive year of drought, raising serious concerns over food security. Panikos Chamba, Secretary-General of the Cyprus Farmers' Union (EKA), warned that without urgent reforms in water management, the island will face not only rising food prices but widespread food insecurity.
"The situation is tragic," Chamba said, pointing to the devastating effects of the prolonged drought on agriculture. He explained that many local producers have been forced to harvest crops prematurely due to dry conditions, with some crops already damaged beyond recovery. "Soon, we will be looking for food," he added, stressing the severity of the crisis.
Chamba called for immediate and long-term action, including substantial investments in water infrastructure. "It is unacceptable that water from reservoirs is being diverted away from farmers to supply golf courses," he said. He also emphasized the need to build new dams and expand desalination plants to secure a sustainable water supply for agriculture.
Chamba further urged the swift completion of a critical water pipeline project from the Mia Milia wastewater treatment plant to areas such as Yeri, Dali, Lympia, and Athienou, vital for animal feed production. "Utilizing huge amounts of water from this source could help sustain local farms and dairy production," he stated.
Without these measures, Chamba warned, Cyprus could face even greater food insecurity in the coming years. "We are rapidly approaching a point where we will not be talking about rising food prices, but rather about the inability to secure food," he concluded.
