Water crisis looms for Paphos farmers

The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment is taking urgent steps to manage the ongoing water shortage affecting farmers in Paphos province. With the region's water reserves running low, efforts are being made to ensure that farmers have access to as much water as possible to continue their vital agricultural work.

Andreas Grigoriou, Director General of the General Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development, shared with CYPE that the Water Development Department, in collaboration with the Agriculture Department, is evaluating all available options to allocate water based on the approved scenario set by the Council of Ministers in early January.

Priority is being given to professional farmers, with the goal of safeguarding agricultural production, a crucial part of the local economy. However, the situation has been complicated by a recent leak in the Mavrokolympos Dam, which has only worsened the already strained water supply. The leak has exacerbated the problem, leaving the ministry with even fewer resources to work with.

Grigoriou stressed that farmers are being urged to plan their crops according to the water already allocated to them, in an effort to avoid crop failure or interruptions in their water supply. The Director General also warned that if the current weather conditions don’t change, the water situation could become even more challenging for farmers across the island.

"The ministry is closely monitoring the situation and will keep farmers and relevant stakeholders updated," Grigoriou added.

To further tackle the crisis, a meeting is set to take place soon between the Water Development Department and the Paphos District Office, where they will discuss a management plan and potential strategies for dealing with the ongoing drought and water shortages.

With the drought threatening both crops and the livelihoods of farmers, the pressure is on to find effective solutions before it’s too late.