Diko MP Chrysanthos Savvides on Wednesday proposed that Cyprus legalise falconry and hunting using other birds of prey, with the aim of stemming the growth in the Paphos district’s pigeon population.

His proposal has won the support of farmers in the district, with representative Giorgos Ellinas having told the House environment committee that the pigeon population has “increased significantly, from the Kouklia area to Ayios Georgios in Peyia, with the result that the birds are eating vegetable and fruit crops”.

Additionally, he said, pigeons are causing “extensive damage” and even the “total destruction” of some crops as they search for food.

He pointed out that the issue could not be resolved through traditional hunting methods, given that the pigeon population has increased in areas where hunting is not allowed, while the high number of trees in the area has also helped the pigeon population grow.

Savvides’ proposal would see the agriculture minister of the day empowered to issue decrees to legalise falconry in specific areas, with the aim of controlling the population of wild fauna species which “cause damage to agricultural crops in areas where hunting is not permitted”.

He told the committee that “agriculture is a profession which is constantly declining”, and that farmers’ income is “not stable because it depends on many factors”.

He also said he had submitted a written question to the game fund over whether money can be allocated to farmers affected by pigeons, and that the game fund had told him there is currently no compensation provided for such eventualities.

Falconry, he said, “is an ancient art which has been recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) as an intangible cultural heritage”, and a custom which has been revived in Greece to reduce the number of wild birds which cause damage to crops.

He said the game fund “seemed to be taking a positive position”, and said that due to the “urgent nature of the problem”, an effort will be made to promote the bill.

“It is not easy to find falcon trainers today, but falcon trainers from abroad have expressed an interest in coming to Cyprus,” he said.