Newsroom
Greek and Turkish Cypriot experts are working together to stop the spread of harmful plant diseases that are affecting crops across the whole island. Their joint efforts, led by the bicommunal Technical Committee for the Environment, are aimed at protecting Cyprus’s agriculture and environment.
Michael Loizides, the Greek Cypriot Head of the Technical Committee, shared that experts from both communities are collaborating on a plan to address these plant diseases. The committee is especially focused on stopping the spread of diseases that have already impacted citrus trees, prickly pears, and zucchini plants.
In a sign of the growing cooperation, the committee will also hire four staff members – two Greek Cypriots and two Turkish Cypriots – to monitor how well the measures are working. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is supporting the committee, and the European Union is covering the costs of these new positions.
Loizides stressed that tackling this problem requires action across the entire island, noting that plant diseases don’t recognize political boundaries. He also mentioned that it’s urgent to address the issue before the European Union steps in with sanctions or other restrictions on affected Cypriot produce.
One of the solutions being explored is introducing microorganisms that naturally fight the disease carriers. This could help stop the spread without relying on harmful chemicals. For larger citrus plantations, stronger treatments have already been effective, but there’s still a need for solutions for trees in residential areas.
The work of the Technical Committee has shown success in the past with other environmental projects, including efforts to restore water sources for mouflons and boost the bam owl population to control rodents. Loizides is hopeful that the new action plan for plant diseases will be just as successful.
While Cyprus has been divided since 1974, this kind of collaboration between Greek and Turkish Cypriots shows the power of working together on shared challenges. The Technical Committees, like the one for the Environment, play a key role in bringing the two communities closer, showing that even in tough times, cooperation is possible for the benefit of all.
With information from CNA
