The Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organisation (CAPO) has disbursed over €2 billion in subsidies since Cyprus joined the European Union, the Commissioner of Agricultural Payments Andreas Kyprianou, said on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference held on Friday at CAPO’s headquarters in Nicosia, Kyprianou highlighted the organisation’s milestone achievements, including the efficient distribution of hectare subsidies and efforts to modernise agricultural practices.

For the first time, Kyprianou stated, subsidies were paid to 28,000 of the 28,782 applicants between 2 and 20 December. Approximately 700 applications remain unresolved due to minor issues, which are being addressed. He described this achievement as a “feat on a European level,” considering that agricultural payment organisations are entitled to start payments on 1 December each year and continue until 30 June of the following year.

Highlighting the importance of proper information for those engaged in agriculture and livestock farming, Kyprianou mentioned that in the past two to three years, CAPO has launched a significant information campaign to help applicants take full advantage of subsidy programmes for modernising agricultural production and sustaining operations under challenging conditions in the primary sector.

He emphasised that European regulations, which CAPO fully implements, require mutual communication after the submission of applications to ensure any discrepancies are resolved timely. From next year, CAPO plans to maintain such communication following the submission of unified subsidy applications to minimise errors and avoid penalties.

Kyprianou noted the strong interest from young farmers entering the primary sector. Last year, 300 applications from young farmers were completed, and the budget for agricultural development programmes targeting young farmers is being doubled. Additionally, the “New Farmer’s Endowment” programme is set to be relaunched in early 2025. Farmers are expected to receive approximately €70 million, on top of nearly €100 million already distributed for 2024.

Responding to questions, Kyprianou explained that the “New Farmer’s Endowment” programme is available to any individual under 41 years old who decides to pursue farming, providing up to €50,000 in funding, regardless of other programme subsidies.

He also announced the conclusion of applications for the first call of investment interventions 4.1.1 and 4.1.2, with a budget of approximately €12 million, aimed at promoting small-scale investments, primarily in mountainous communities.

Kyprianou praised CAPO’s “continuous efforts” to simplify processes for Cypriot farmers, highlighting that CAPO is fully digitalised. All applications are submitted online, with each farmer having their own portal for updates on application progress. Satellite checks are now standard, and farmers can upload geotagged photos directly via their smartphones, confirming the time and location to verify cultivation.

The commissioner also pointed out that geotagged photos will be mandatory across the EU from 2027, but CAPO has already implemented this for some crops starting in 2023, with plans to extend it further. Furthermore, CAPO has developed an AI platform called “Digital Farmer,” offering users guidance on subsidy applications, the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and conditionality regulations. The platform is currently being piloted.

In terms of achievements, Kyprianou said CAPO “has nothing to envy from any other payment organisation in the EU,” with highly qualified staff across all departments.

He stated that CAPO will allocate approximately €450 million to Cypriot farmers under the 2023–2027 Rural Development Programme, excluding emergency aids.