Development of rural areas a priority says agriculture minister (Updated)

The development of rural areas is a priority for the government, Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis said on Wednesday as the cabinet approved more support for agriculture and the rejuvenation of rural and remote areas.

Speaking in Athienou, at the inauguration ceremony for the revamped Vrysis square and the municipal park, he said these two projects were implemented as part of the rural development programme for the support of local development through the Larnaca and Famagusta district development company.

The two projects, together with two smaller related projects to restore the façades of listed buildings in the area, were financed with €413,000 from the rural development programme and the EU’s LEADER initiative, a financial instrument aiming to involve local actors in rural areas in the development of their own regions.

The reconstruction of the historic square and surrounding area is expected to have many benefits for the local community, Kadis said.

“The preservation of our cultural heritage is our obligation to previous and future generations,” he added, reflecting on the ingenuity of previous generations who built the original water fountain.

“The difficulties our ancestors faced to supply their homes with water, the precious resource we today take for granted, their progressive thinking and determination to find solutions to their problems are inspirational,” he said.

On the revamp of the municipal park, Kadis said it is expected to contribute tangibly to the quality of life not only of locals, but also of the neighbouring communities.

Kadis also said that the new programming period for rural development 2023-2027 will “provide for the strengthening of efforts to address the challenges presented in rural areas, where innovative approaches are required, with a holistic and sustainable character”.

The LEADER initiative calls on people living in rural areas to think creatively and find practical solutions to the challenges they face in their daily lives, with help to create new businesses and generate jobs through the development of handicrafts and agrotourism, and address issues in public infrastructure through small-scale funding.

Later in the day, a statement by deputy government spokesperson Niovi Parisinou said that the cabinet had approved updates to the existing grant scheme for the rejuvenation of rural areas.

In addition to the interim instalment of 50 per cent of the total eligible cost of the investment provided for in the already announced project, the possibility of an advance payment without guarantee of up to 20 per cent and a maximum of €60,000 will be provided.

The cabinet also approved support for potato and vegetable farmers, a request made by the agriculture ministry to cover the increased costs of fertiliser and pesticides as a result of the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Kadis said this would amount to €3.4 million, reminding that this is the second cabinet decision taken to counter the impact of the war.

“The total amount offered to farmers through the two decisions will add up to €13.5 million, allowing Cyprus to make the most of all of the tools formulated on an EU level to support the primary sector,” he said.