Andreas Kyprianou, today marks one year since taking up his duties as Commissioner for Rural Payments.
During this period, the Commissioner held meetings with Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, Party Leaders and other Government officials with the aim and purpose of informing them about the work of the CAP and finding ways to strengthen the rural economy, facilitate the applicant, e-government and fight against homelessness.
The Commissioner also had personal meetings with farmers' organisations, Producer Groups, ordinary farmers and other stakeholders to discuss the problems they face and to exchange suggestions and views in order to make the organisation work better and more efficiently.
The Commissioner also participated in several European conferences and signed memoranda of understanding with other European rural payment organisations.
As promised upon taking office, the Commissioner was in the countryside, close to the Cypriot farmer, with field visits to all communities, in order to have direct contact with farmers, growers and stockbreeders, in order to record the problems, concerns and suggestions of the agricultural sector in Cyprus. Also, following the Commissioner's instructions, officers of the Agency were in various villages where, with the concession of the village community offices, they stayed for two weeks and assisted farmers with the problems they face. Moreover, by decision of Mr. Kyprianou, the Rural Culture Festival was organized with great success for the first time in the countryside, in the Municipality of Lefkara, where farmers - producers had the opportunity to present and sell their products.
The Commissioner, immediately after taking office, held one-to-one meetings with all staff throughout the country and assured them that he/she is at the disposal of anyone and for anything that concerns him/her.
Just four months after his appointment, the Commissioner established the New Pafos Regional Office in the area of Polos Chrysochous, where the residents of that area and the Tilliria area can now be served by it. The operation of this new office has helped to better serve the farmers of the area and to end their long years of inconvenience of going to the Paphos District Office.
Mr. Kyprianou had and still has the challenge to implement the new requirements of the New Common Agricultural Policy in a timely manner in order for the Organization to be ready to implement the guidelines of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment.
Kyprianou had and still has the challenge to implement in a timely manner the new requirements of the New Common Agricultural Policy in order for the Organization to be ready to implement the guidelines of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment. The new CAP for the period 2023-2027 will be implemented through the new Cyprus Strategic Plan, which will contain a number of interventions to achieve the above objectives and which will respond to the needs of Cyprus. The total funding of the new CAP is expected to amount to approximately €458.4 million of which €233.5 million is expected to be provided through Direct Payments (100% European funds), approximately €200 million through Rural Development and approximately €24.9 million through Rural Development. As part of the effort to simplify and assist applicants by using modern technology, the Commissioner has decided for the first time to implement the controls directly through the Agricultural Area Monitoring system known as Monitoring.
As part of the effort to simplify and assist applicants by using modern technology, the Commissioner has decided for the first time to implement the controls directly through the Agricultural Area Monitoring system known as Monitoring.
Mr Kyprianou's vision is to make the CFCA a modern, flexible, non-bureaucratic organisation, an exemplary, transparent and direct organisation that will make accurate and timely payments and will provide maximum support to the Cypriot agricultural economy.
(EC)
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