Around 30,000 farmers are eligible to apply for hectare-based subsidies under the strategic plan of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023–2027, with a total budget of approximately €60 million, the agriculture department said on Sunday.

The financial aid aims to support agricultural incomes and ensure the sustainability of farming operations, it specified in a statement, adding that the deadline for applications is April 11, while late applications will be accepted under certain conditions from April 12 to May 6.

Hectare-based subsidies are a key pillar of Cyprus’ agricultural strategy, as in recent years they have contributed to strengthening farmers’ incomes and ensuring the sector’s viability, the department said. These subsidies are also linked to social cohesion by helping farmers adapt to market demands while maintaining sustainable operations.

“Many of the schemes are also connected to the application of ecological and sustainable farming practices, such as environmental protection.”

The department also announced two new subsidy schemes that are being introduced for the first time this year following discussions with farmers. The first concerns the problem caused by the Mediterranean fruit fly, with financial assistance provided for the use of traps to protect crops.

To help farmers manage fruit fly infestations in orchards, the scheme will provide a subsidy of €55 per decare for the use of integrated pest management techniques aimed at reducing reliance on conventional pesticides. “The scheme includes the use of attract-and-kill traps for mass trapping of pests, as well as the collection of infected fruit found during sorting and packaging,” it said.

The second new measure seeks to provide significant support to vine growers in the Commandaria region, with a subsidy of €80 per decare. “The aim is to promote the preservation and sustainable use of Cyprus’ indigenous wine grape varieties in order to tackle prolonged droughts, heat stress on vines and other negative effects of climate change,” the department said. It added that two native grape varieties have been included in the scheme for vineyards producing PDO “Commandaria” wine: Mavro (Ntopio Mavro) and Xynisteri.

Meanwhile, the department said a €30 million fund has been allocated for Basic Income Support for Sustainability, a decoupled direct payment scheme designed as the primary tool for supporting farm incomes.

It also highlighted several additional interventions, including coupled support for citrus growers in the buffer zone, supplementary income support for young farmers, and redistributive income support for small and medium-sized farms.

On environmentally friendly practices, the department said that certain measures would target banana cultivation, including subsidies for removing previous year’s trees, pruning old leaves, and keeping proper farming records. It said that carob growers would also receive financial assistance for pruning and shredding tree branches, as well as for implementing sustainable agricultural techniques. Other measures would focus on reducing soil and water pollution caused by chemical pesticides.

For more information, the department said interested parties could visit the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organisation (CAPO) website at www.capo.gov.cy or contact the Farmers’ Service Centre at 777719.