Farmers in Kokkinochoria and Paphos are frustrated and are preparing for mobilisations if their demand for increased water quantities for irrigation is not met.
As an initial measure, they have announced two simultaneous protests to be held next Monday July 22, in the area of the ammunition depot in Xylophagou and in the Paphos district.
The events will be peaceful, the farmers’ spokesperson, Andreas Karyos, told philenews, but if their demands are not met, they will take “more drastic and dynamic measures”.
Water reductions from the southern pipeline and the Asprokremmos dam in Paphos began in 2022 due to drought. However, this year, according to the farmers, the reductions have exceeded all limits, reaching 60%.
“In the Kokkinochoria area, we are allocated a total of 6 million cubic metres of water for this year, and only 2 million cubic metres remain. In the first six months, we had water for 14 hours a week, but now it has been reduced to only 4 hours. Water is only available from boreholes, but it is dangerous because it is brackish,” Karyos noted, pointing out that if the situation persists, there will be reduced production in most agricultural products, leading to higher prices for consumers.
Farmers express disappointment with the meeting they had with the Minister of Agriculture and representatives of the Water Department, as their demand for an increase in water supply from the southern pipeline by 2 million cubic metres and 1 million cubic metres from the Asprokremmos dam was not heeded.
“We have explained the serious problem that this decision will create for the primary sector, with consequences for farmers, consumers, and export quantities, especially in potato cultivation. However, our suggestion to provide a little more water to get us through the second half of the year has not been accepted. They have left us at the mercy of nature, showing a complete disregard for agriculture”, Karyos emphasised.
The Ministry of Agriculture stands by its decisions, stating that it is working on a series of measures to support farmers, and if these are insufficient, they will be revised. As mentioned to philenews, farmers were informed about this back in January to plan their production accordingly.
The reason for this policy, according to the Ministry, is the fact that we are experiencing the tenth worst year in terms of rainfall since 1900, with dams currently at only 38% capacity.
“We are following the basic guidelines to ensure 100% satisfaction of water needs and safe reserves for the coming year”, the Ministry of Agriculture notes, adding that so far, over 50 Damage Statements for compensation due to heatwaves have been publicised.
