Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou presented her ministry’s 2025 budget to parliament, outlining key initiatives focused on sustainable development, climate change adaptation, and agricultural sector modernisation.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment’s proposed budget stands at €516.7 million, marking a 29% increase from 2024’s €400.8 million.
Including co-funded projects, the total budget reaches €551.7 million.
Staff costs account for 28% of total expenditure, showing an 8% increase primarily due to cost-of-living adjustments and the hiring of 108 forest firefighters. Regular expenses represent 40% of the budget, while development spending accounts for 24%.
The minister detailed seven strategic pillars for 2025, including primary sector development, water resource management, green transition, forest protection, biodiversity, marine environment protection, and animal welfare.
Key initiatives include expanding agro-meteorological stations, streamlining risk management systems for farmers, and implementing water conservation measures.
The ministry plans to increase drinking water production through existing desalination plants powered by renewable energy.
Environmental priorities include upgrading waste management facilities in Koshi and Pentakomo, implementing “pay-as-you-throw” schemes in 13 municipalities, and establishing a pilot Green Community project in Pyrgos Tyllirias.
The ministry also announced plans to purchase a 25-metre anti-pollution vessel worth €7.28 million to combat marine pollution, and allocated €6.3 million for sustainable fishing and aquaculture projects through the 2021-2027 Maritime and Fisheries Operational Programme.
