Cyprus farmers urge revision of irrigation water allocation policy

Tasos Giapanis, General Secretary of the Pancyprian Farmers’ Union, has called for a more generous irrigation water distribution policy in Cyprus. Following four years of drought, reservoir levels have reached approximately 123 million cubic meters, representing 42% to 43% capacity, compared to 59 million cubic meters or 20% capacity at the same time last year. Giapanis argues that current government planning relies on an outdated three-year framework that ignores increased water availability. He noted that water demand has decreased following the culling of over 80,000 animals due to foot-and-mouth disease. The official highlighted the critical importance of the Southern Conveyor system, which transports water from Paphos to the Kokkinoxoria region, the primary area for potato production. Giapanis warned that maintaining restrictive allocations could threaten exports and jeopardize the recovery of perennial crops like olive trees, which have suffered due to previous shortages.