Cyprus grape production faces critical decline due to heat and disease

During a session of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture on September 8, 2026, members discussed the crisis in the viticulture sector, highlighted by a 75% reduction in August grape deliveries compared to last year. Lawmakers Chrysanthos Savvides and Charalambos Pazaros emphasized that the industry is suffering from a dual blow of extreme heatwaves and a severe downy mildew (peronospora) outbreak, particularly affecting the Limassol and Paphos districts.

This crisis is part of a long-term decline that has seen Cyprus’s overall grape production drop by 80% over the last 40 years. While the Ministry of Agriculture has activated a support scheme to provide compensation to affected farmers following on-site inspections, legislators expressed concerns that short-term financial aid is insufficient to address the structural decay of the sector. There is an urgent call for more sustainable, long-term state policies to support the historic viticulture industry, which has traditionally been a cornerstone of the regional economy and family income.