Cypriot farmers urge government support amid rising production costs

The Panagrotikos Farmers’ Association of Cyprus has called for urgent government intervention to mitigate surging production costs, citing significant threats to the viability of agricultural businesses. Secretary-General Anastasis Yiapanis emphasized that high expenses for fertilizers, plant-protection products, energy, water, and fuel are exacerbated by Cyprus's heavy reliance on imports due to a lack of domestic manufacturing. The association warns that these burdens directly impact food security and the economic survival of local producers.

During a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture held on October 6, 2026, lawmakers and agricultural organizations discussed these challenges. Committee Chair Giannakis Gavriil criticized existing support schemes, noting that current subsidies for colored agricultural fuel cover only 10 percent of the quantities actually consumed by farmers. While Ministry of Agriculture representative Andreas Alexandrou presented new subsidy programs for fertilizers and fuel targeting 5,000 beneficiaries, members of parliament demanded updated measures that accurately reflect the current economic reality. Debates also touched upon the failure to implement previous cabinet decisions from 2013 regarding fuel assistance and concerns over the potential collapse of farms burdened by retroactive environmental taxes.