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It is with great pleasure that I accepted the invitation of the Arakapa Community Council to welcome the first all-day Mandarin Festival, which you are organizing in your beautiful and picturesque community. Every opportunity I get, as Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, to engage with the rural world, our farmers and farm women, is valuable and important to me. It gives me the opportunity to listen to you directly, to learn first-hand about the difficulties and problems you face, but also to share your joy for the fruits of your labours, as I did today.
Allow me, first of all, to congratulate the President and members of the Arakapa Community Council for taking the initiative to organise this beautiful celebration. Events like today's strengthen communities by bringing together residents, farmers, visitors and all those involved in the production and promotion of local products. Through such events we highlight the rich gastronomic heritage of our island and promote the local identity of each community to the wider public.
The beautiful village of Arakapa, in the Pitsilia region of Limassol district, is located in an area famous for its citrus orchards and, above all, for its fragrant tangerines. The production of tangerines of excellent quality has been for many years an occupation of the inhabitants of the community, which is why today's celebration of the favourite fruit of young and old alike could not but take place here, in the community of Arakapa.
Today's celebration is also an opportunity to honour the tradition, heritage and hard work involved in the production of each fruit. It is also an opportunity to highlight the importance of cultivating the land, which, when cared for, rewards us by generously offering us its fruits. The daily toil and dedication that the farmers of Arakapa show in their production is admirable, and has made tangerine cultivation one of the pillars of the local economy, helping to distinguish the area for the high quality, wonderful aroma and distinctive taste of its fruit.
Arakapa mandarin has been grown extensively in the area for decades, and is sought after throughout Cyprus for its quality and, most importantly, for its unique aroma. This particular variety of mandarin was introduced to Cyprus in the distant 1870s, however, over the years, it has acquired its own special characteristics and is now a certified unique variety, which has been registered in the National Variety List of Cyprus and, by extension, in the Community Catalogue of Fruit Varieties, under the name 'Ntopia'. One of the characteristics of this variety is its resistance to cold. This is the reason why it is successfully grown in semi-mountainous areas such as the Arakapa area, which is located at an altitude of 650 metres.
Tangerines are also a good source of income for local residents who, despite the challenges faced by the citrus sector in Cyprus, continue to produce tasty and aromatic fruits of high quality, meeting the demands of the market. Their dedication and perseverance also contributes to the preservation of the natural beauty and character of the region.
The development of the primary sector in our country is a top priority of President Nicos Christodoulides' government programme. Although today the contribution of the primary sector to the country's Gross Domestic Product is small, it can nevertheless gain potential for significant growth and play a key role in broadening the productive base of our economy. At the same time, the primary sector has a catalytic effect on other sectors of the economy, thereby 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 the landscape, while at the same time it is a way of dealing with the climate crisis.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment recognises and takes into account the challenges facing Cypriot agriculture. Therefore, I would like to assure you that we stand by you, by each and every one of you, and we are making every effort to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector. The role of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan 2023 - 2027, which provides for a total funding of €454 million to support agricultural activity and the sustainable development of our countryside, is expected to be decisive.
At the same time, as a Ministry, and in line with the policies of the European Union, we attach particular importance to the extension of actions to reorganise and improve the functioning of the agricultural sector. The reform of the sector of risk management in agricultural production, the legislation to tackle Unfair Commercial Practices in the agri-food supply chain, as well as to improve the functioning of farmers' markets for the benefit of the rural world, are just some examples of these actions.
The channel of communication we have opened with farmers' organisations, especially in the present circumstances, confirms our willingness to work with you on the issues of concern to you. Our common ambition is a modern, efficient agricultural sector that ensures a fair income for the people who serve it, always taking into account the demands of society and the guidelines set by the large European family of which we are part. Our aim is to support rural communities so that they remain vibrant centres of economic, social and cultural development, combining agriculture, tourism and the protection of our natural environment.
In conclusion, I would like to assure you that the Ministry of Agriculture and the Government will continue to implement our pro-agricultural policy and support our rural people in every possible way, as set out in the governance programme.
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