Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, has announced the Major Investment Measure of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan 2023-2027, totaling €67.5 million, of which €7.5 million have been earmarked for the first installation of young farmers.
In her speech at an event in Athienou on 5 June, Panayiotou also announced the creation of a special financing facility by the Cyprus Electricity Authority for professional farmers who want to apply for the installation of photovoltaic systems connected to the grid.
In her speech, the Minister said that the event coincides with World Environment Day noting that it was “an excellent opportunity” to focus on the environmental dimension of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) as well as the impacts of climate change on agricultural activity.
In this context, she added, for the first time in a major investment scheme, they were applying a very high rate of assistance for environmental expenditure, reaching 80% of the eligible expenditure, “something we have already applied in the small investment scheme”. This, she added, “demonstrates our commitment to both environmental expansion and the resilience of the sector to climate change”.
According to the Minister, the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 “has a strong environmental orientation as reflected, mainly, in the ecological programmes and the agri-environmental interventions that are implemented”.
She also said that in order to achieve substantial support for farmers, Cyprus requests the updating of the existing mechanisms of the Common Agricultural Policy “so that they can respond to the new situation”.
Referring to the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which begins on January 1, 2026, the Minister said that Nicosia’s goal was “to ensure” that the new CAP would take into account “the need to adopt adaptation and mitigation mechanisms for the impacts of climate change with particular emphasis on sustainable water management”.
She noted that interest in the small investment scheme “exceeded expectations” since the eligible applications correspond to a total amount of €12.7 million compared to €10 million initially set as target.
Panayiotou said that her Ministry was in constant consultation with all stakeholders, and especially with agricultural organisations, with the aim of implementing interventions appropriately adapted to the needs of the country for the benefit of society and the agriculture sector.
(Source: CNA)
