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Maria Panagiotou: "The new programming focuses on innovative actions that will enable the implementation of the governance programme in terms of sustainability. Our focus is on people and the environment."
The policies and actions designed and implemented from March 2023 to March 2024 were referred to by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Dr. Maria Panagiotou, during a press conference held to review the work of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment (MDAE).
The Ministry's vision
Dr Panayiotou referred to the Ministry's vision for a sustainable, green and clean Cyprus and for improving the quality of life of citizens in terms of sustainability. "The path that started more than a year ago for our Ministry continues with people and the environment at its heart, with the main pillars being the transition to a sustainable, innovative and green economy, the revitalisation of the countryside and the implementation of a comprehensive and horizontal strategy for the protection of the environment. In 2023, the Ministry's actual expenditure amounted to around €435 million.
With enthusiasm and optimism, we are moving on to the next phase of our efforts in 2024, always with the support and cooperation of all of you, with a budget of €440 million."
Agriculture and Rural Development
In order to support and develop the primary sector, Dr Panagiotou referred, among others, to the following actions, projects and policies implemented in 2023-2024:
[*]Updating the National Strategy for the Primary Sector, with the participation of agricultural organizations, with the ultimate goal of increasing the contribution of the primary sector to the country's GDP, and expanding the sector in a way that will satisfy domestic needs and allow the promotion of local products to new markets. [*]Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan 2023-2027, the Ministry's main financial instrument for the implementation of agricultural policy for the benefit of Cypriot agriculture and the Cypriot countryside. With a budget of €454 million, it was officially launched on 1/1/23 and focuses on the competitiveness of the primary sector, quality of life in the countryside and environmental sustainability. [*]Doubling the budget of the investment measure and the measure for young farmers, resulting in the approval of all applications that met the eligibility criteria, and the implementation of important investments in the primary sector, with a total aid amount of €60 million. Investments were also approved which make a decisive contribution to the integration of young farmers, thus ensuring the long-term future of the agricultural profession. [*]4. Measures to support agriculture and livestock farming in sectors affected by developments in the global economy, such as the cereal farming sector with €2,075,642 and potato farming with €1,654,000 and farmers in Western Nicosia with €1 million. [*]Sponsorship scheme for the genetic improvement of the Cyprus sheep and goat population in the framework of the "AGRICYGEN" project. 31 contracts were signed with applicants receiving the amount of €1,484,760 until the end of 2023 for sponsorship and training. [*]CAP actions contributing to the improvement of soil organic matter and soil quality, actions supporting beekeeping, and the crop rotation measure contributing to the reduction of production costs, use of natural resources, in particular water, and the need to use chemical fertilisers. [*]CARBONICA project of the Institute of Agricultural Research to establish the CARBONICA Excellence Hub, with the ultimate aim of producing primary sector products with a zero carbon footprint. [*]NENUPHAR programme providing solutions to nutrient pollution and increased fertiliser prices. [*]Halalumi authenticity certification, as the main exported agri-food product of our country, with over 60 cheese dairies certified to produce PDO halalumi and over 1,600 sheep, goat and cattle farms certified to produce milk for halalumi production. A framework for cooperation with the State Chemistry Department, the CFCA and the Department of Agriculture has also been prepared for the certification of a method for recording the locality of milk in order to eliminate the use of milk powder. [*]Organic farming support schemes with €4.4 million to 12,400 farmers, stockbreeders and beekeepers to further promote organic farming. [*]Direct payments covering six schemes, through which 29,871 beneficiaries were supported, with an expenditure of €47.6 million. [*]Water storage dam in Tersefanou, with a budget of approximately €24 million, aiming to use the reclaimed water produced by the Larnaca Wastewater Treatment Plant to meet the irrigation needs of approximately 1,670 hectares. [*]Ormideia fishing shelter at a cost of around €1.6 million [*]Neutering project, under which some 2,000 stray cats were neutered with the participation of 86 private veterinarians. [*]Animal Welfare Education Programme, aimed at educating children about animal welfare. So far. A total of about 600 children from 15 schools have attended the program.
Environment
With the aim of protecting the environment, the Minister mentioned, among others, the following actions and policies implemented in 2023-2024:
[*]National Energy and Climate Plan, with the ultimate goal of achieving the national binding target for a 32% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, within the framework of the new EU "Fit-for-55" Package adopted by Cyprus. [*]Amendment of the Law on the Establishment of a Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Scheme [*]Modernisation of the licensing and inspection system, under which the process of transferring competences from the Ministry of Labour, and Social Insurance to the Ministry of Labour, and Social Insurance, such as industrial air pollution, has started. [*]Grant Scheme to Encourage the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Enterprises, which provides for the allocation of €5 million to at least 300 enterprises for the measurement and certification of gas emissions. [*]Installation of 6 monitoring units to measure GHG emissions in agricultural crops, with a total value of €4.2 million, estimated to lead to a 10% reduction in GHG emissions in the agricultural sector. [*]Holistic Water Management in the National Forest Park of the Pedagogical Academy, an action with a total value of €250,000. [*]Establishment of an Environmental Inspections Sector, with responsibility for audits/inspections of waste management units and units operating in areas of competence of the Environment Department. [*]Sustainable Management Plan for Akamas National Forest Park, the framework and philosophy of which is unchanged, with the aim of carrying out the works without unnecessary delays and in a soft manner that will not cause any negative impact on the environment. At the same time, at a total annual cost of €5.4 million, the provision of compensatory measures to communities is proceeding. [*]Preparation of a "Red List" of endangered species of fauna in Cyprus. [*]Monitoring programme for the Mediterranean Seal in Cyprus, in the framework of which two more births were recorded, with the population estimated at 20-22 individuals. [*]Extension of sewerage systems [*]Pay as I Fly, which is progressing with 16 Clusters of Local Authorities having signed the contract, representing 75% of the population to be served by the system. [*]Municipal Solid Waste Reduction Programme of seaside hotels in the Limassol and Paphos Districts, with a total budget of more than €10 million [*]Green Points Network, with a total value of €11.9 million [*]50 Green Kiosks, to be installed gradually throughout Cyprus, with a total value of €3,274,000. [*]For the management of man-made and natural disasters, the Minister referred to the prevention of fires with the installation of four electrostatic automatic fire detection systems worth €420,000, as well as the receipt of equipment from the Forestry Department worth €5,256,568. [*]In response to marine oil pollution incidents, reference was made to upgrading the Republic's capacity to respond to marine pollution incidents by reinforcing the TATF with aerial spraying systems and anti-fouling vessels, at a total cost of €9 million and funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan).
New targets, new challenges for 2024
Dr Panagiotou referred to the many challenges facing the Ministry, and stressed that new actions are being launched in line with the governance programme, putting people and the environment at the centre, which will be announced in due course. He outlined, however, the framework in which some of the forthcoming actions will take place. The plan includes 33 water infrastructure projects for water supply, wastewater, reclaimed water and irrigation with an estimated value of €722 million, which are under construction with a completion horizon of 2024-2029. [*]2. Improving the timing of payment of compensation through the Risk Management Fund in Agriculture. [*]e-kofini: A digital tool that will provide up-to-date information on the average selling prices of basic agricultural products, as determined by producer groups and organisations, as well as on retail prices from various outlets. [*]Innovative irrigation systems and smart farming, an investment measure under the CAP that will contribute to the rational management of water resources and reduce the costs paid by farmers to irrigate their crops. [*]Support for the installation of third generation permeable agro-voltaic systems and anti-fouling systems that help to ensure the production of quality products at reduced production costs. [*]Extension of biological control of rodents in livestock areas. [*]"Zero Waste to Landfill" - Expected verification of the Presidential Palace building as a zero waste to landfill building. [*]Conducting an exercise in the Cypriot EEZ to deal with marine pollution from oil products with the participation of Greece-Cyprus-Israel. [*]Completion of the process of establishing a new marine protected area "Agios Georgios Alamanos". [*]Expansion of the Natura2000 network, preparation and submission of 38 Management and Protection Orders and improvement of the procedures for the assessment of environmental studies. [*]Tree planting programme "Planting for climate", which will enhance urban greenery or microclimate in urban centres, contribute to climate change adaptation, enhance biodiversity and beekeeping, as well as carbon sequestration. [*]Green Community" [*]Amend legislation on environmental assessment of projects, including projects in or near Natura 2000 sites to require mandatory monitoring of environmental conditions and introduce provisions to regulate breaches of environmental conditions.
For the full speech of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Dr. Maria Panagiotou click here.
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