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It is with great pleasure that I accepted your invitation to declare the opening of the International Big Potato Festival that is taking place again this year in the community of Xylofagou. First of all, allow me to congratulate and thank especially the Xylofagou Community Council for the initiative of organizing the various activities of the festival, which is part of the cultural events of the community for the year 2023.
Everyone is aware of the importance of potato cultivation in the region, and in Cyprus in general, as well as the contribution of potato farming to the local economy. Potatoes have been the most important export crop of Cyprus for several years now, with a production area of over 45,000 decares and a production of over 120,000 tonnes. Over the years, the Cypriot potato has established itself in foreign and domestic markets for its unique quality characteristics.
Dear friends,
As conditions have developed in recent years, Cypriot agriculture is facing many challenges. The Government, and in particular the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, taking into account these facts, is active in many ways and is making every possible effort to meet the new challenges by improving the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.
It is a fact that agriculture is a very important part that contributes decisively to the socio-economic fabric of every country. This is also proven at European level, since it is no coincidence that the first, most complete and integrated policy established and implemented in the European Union (EU) is the Common Agricultural Policy, which currently absorbs 40% of the EU budget.
In the case of our country, although the agricultural sector represents, in numbers, a small part of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it nevertheless has a significant impact on the other sectors of the economy, thus multiplying its value. At the same time, it should not be overlooked that agriculture contributes to food sufficiency, to maintaining the social fabric of rural areas and to reducing urbanisation and desertification, while the practice of agriculture protects and preserves the natural environment and landscape.
To support agricultural activity and sustainable rural development, the role of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan 2023-2027, which provides for a total funding of €454 million, is expected to be decisive. The Plan includes measures and schemes that promote the sustainability and competitiveness of farmers while aiming at mitigating environmental problems and addressing the impacts of climate change.
The recent announcements of the two most important development measures of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, a) Scheme 4.1 for financial support for investments in the primary sector and b) Measure 6.1 for support for the first establishment of new farmers, have shown the importance of the new rural development programme.
The recent announcements of the two most important development measures of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, a) Scheme 4.1 for the provision of financial support for investments in the primary sector and b) Measure 6.1 for the provision of support for the first establishment of new farmers, have shown the After examining all the applications received, it was decided to increase the subsidy amount to 70 million euros, from the 36 million euros initially foreseen, which allowed the approval of all the applications that met the eligibility criteria.
At the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, in line with EU policies, attaches particular importance to the extension of actions to reorganise and improve the functioning of the agricultural sector. Examples are the reform of the sector of risk management in agricultural production, as well as the legislative regulations to address Unfair Commercial Practices in the supply chain of agricultural products and foodstuffs, and the improvement of the functioning of the Farmers' Markets for the benefit of our farmers. In particular, I report to you that during the last 4 years of implementation of the institutional framework, more than EUR 8 million have been paid by the Risk Management Fund in agricultural production to support the potato sector. Also, in order to address the problems created by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it was decided to support the 2022 spring potato harvest with a special plan with a budget of 3.5 million euros.
In addition, I would like to mention that the registration of the name "Cypriot red potatoes" in the register of the European Union as a Geographical Indication product is in progress. The registration of the name "Cyprus Red Potato" in the EU Register of Geographical Indications is expected to contribute to the further upgrading of Cypriot potato farming as Geographical Indications enable consumers to trust and distinguish quality products, while at the same time, it helps producers to better market their products.
Friends,
In closing, I would like to wish your community good luck in its quest to claim a place in the pages of the Guinness Book of World Records by breaking the record for the world's largest potato pancake! Again, I congratulate the organizers and hope that such events continue to be held with the same zeal. Finally, I would like to assure you again that the Government will continue to implement its pro-farming policy and support our farming community in every possible way.
I wish you all a beautiful evening.
(BG)
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