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It is with great pleasure that I welcome the Cherry Festival entitled "The Ruby of Kampos and Tsakkistra", which is organized for another year, this year, by the Community Council of Kampos with such great success.
Today, we celebrate not only the fruits of our land, but we also honor the hard work of our producers and the importance of agriculture to our land. We celebrate the rich tradition and quality of our cherry trees, which is the result of the dedication and hard work of our farmers.
I am also very happy that the Japanese Embassy in Cyprus, which, together with the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, contributed to the creation of the SAKURA park with the ornamental Japanese cherry trees, is participating in today's celebration. This park is proof of the excellent relations between our country and Japan. The presence of the dear representatives from the Embassy of Japan in Cyprus gives this year's Cherry Festival a special touch.
The village of Kambos, built on the slope of the mountains of Kykkos, among large oaks, plane trees and pine trees, is one of the most beautiful villages in Cyprus. The soil and climate conditions of the village are ideal for the cultivation of fruit trees, where since long ago, the practice of agriculture was the main activity of the inhabitants and the mainstay of the village's economy. Kampos is famous for its cherries, but also for the various products made from them.
The cherry tree is quite an important crop for Cyprus, especially in the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas. Under suitable conditions it can be a good source of income for the producer, while helping to keep the population in the countryside. According to the most recent data from the Statistical Office, the area under cherry cultivation in Cyprus is approximately 223 hectares and production amounts to 387 tonnes. The production value amounts to approximately EUR 1.4 million.
It is true that cherry cultivation is currently facing problems and challenges. However, the inhabitants of the region continue to cultivate their cherry trees. With the main advantage of producing high quality cherries, they meet the demands of the market while preserving the natural beauty and character of the area.
Friends,
Although the agricultural sector represents in numbers a small part of the Gross National Product of the country, it has a significant impact on the other sectors of the economy, thus multiplying its value. It helps to maintain the social fabric of rural areas and to reduce urbanisation and desertification. Moreover, the practice of agricultural activity protects and preserves the natural environment and landscape, while at the same time contributing to the mitigation of the climate crisis.
The Government, and in particular the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, taking into account the challenges faced by Cypriot agriculture in recent years, continues its multifaceted activities and makes every effort to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.
To support The Strategic Plan includes interventions that promote the sustainability and competitiveness of farmers, while at the same time aiming at mitigating environmental problems and addressing the climate crisis. In this context, it is expected that our Ministry will soon announce a targeted Rural Development Plan intervention focusing on investments in farms located in mountainous areas, which will include as eligible actions anti-hail and anti-rain structures for the protection of deciduous fruit trees such as cherry trees.
At the same time, in line with EU policies, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment attaches particular importance to the extension of actions to reorganise and improve the functioning of the agricultural sector. Examples include the reform of the sector of risk management in agricultural production, as well as the legislative regulations to tackle Unfair Commercial Practices in the agri-food supply chain and the improvement of the functioning of the Farmers' Markets for the benefit of our farmers.
We are determined to breathe new life into the agricultural sector, to chart a new course that responds to its needs and addresses its real problems. Our aim is to support rural communities so that they remain vibrant centres of economic, social and cultural development, combining agriculture, rural tourism and the protection of our natural environment.
Our Ministry's objectives are not implemented through isolated efforts but come to complement and reinforce the Government's horizontal policies, which, through interventions in all areas of governance, are aimed at supporting the rural world and the continuous improvement of the level of quality of life in the countryside.
Our Ministry's objectives are not implemented through isolated efforts but come to complement and reinforce the Government's horizontal policies, which, through interventions in all areas of governance, are aimed at supporting the rural world and the continuous improvement of the level of quality of life in the countryside. At the same time, they aim to address the phenomenon of urbanization, through solutions that strengthen local communities.
The appointment by the President of the Republic of the Commissioner for the Development of Mountain Communities and the reactivation of the implementation of the National Strategy for the Development of Mountain Communities, as well as other policies and measures, demonstrate precisely the political will of the Government of Nicos Christodoulides for the development of the countryside and our mountainous regions.
The appointment of the Commissioner for the Development of Mountain Communities by the President of the Republic and the reactivation of the implementation of the National Strategy for the Development of Mountain Communities, as well as other policies and measures, demonstrate precisely the political will of the Government of Nicos Christodoulides for the development of the countryside and our mountainous regions.
For the sake of argument, within the framework of the integrated housing policy and the government's approach to the development of mountainous areas and the countryside, the Government of Nikos Christodoulides has proceeded to a substantial upgrade of the Housing Plans granted for the revitalization of rural communities, mountainous, disadvantaged and marginal areas with subsidies ranging from 20 thousand to 70 thousand euros.
Through the changes to the Housing Plans for the Revitalization of Mountainous, Arid, Disadvantaged and Rural Areas, we have upgraded and reclassified some communities in order to increase benefits to beneficiaries, and extended the duration of the Plans from one to two years. At the same time, we corrected provisions in the Plans that end the difficulty for people to secure a loan, in order to provide more substantial assistance to those in need.
Along with the Home Office Housing Plans, we saw fit to revise the Upland Allowance by including more communities, and corrected, among other things, the unequal treatment towards pensioners, who were receiving a lower allowance than non-pensioners.
In conjunction with the development of employment, education, health and leisure infrastructure, our aim is to provide as much incentive as possible, particularly for our young people to choose these areas to live in. Only in this way can we create conditions for development and progress for our mountain areas and countryside.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Before I conclude, I would like to express my congratulations to the Community Council of Kampos for the excellent organization of this beautiful two-day event, which, in addition to the fun, offers people the opportunity to learn about cherry growing and to taste fresh cherries, as well as other products made from the unique cherry trees of Kampos.
I would also like to thank the representatives of the Japanese Embassy for their participation in the festival.
Your Excellency, Ambassador and representatives of the Japanese Embassy,
I would like to thank you for your participation in the festival. Your contribution to the creation of the beautiful SAKURA park with Japanese cherry trees, is very important. This event highlights the strong relations between our countries, particularly in areas like agriculture.
I hope that such events, which showcase Cypriot agricultural products, will continue to take place with the same zeal.
I hope you all have a wonderful time.
(EFYs/MS)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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