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The
broad agricultural sector, despite the reduction
of its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product
and total employment, continues to be a
fundamental sector of the Cyprus economy, both
with respect to the production of essential food
items for the population and exports and with
respect to the employment of thousands of rural
residents and the containment of the depopulation
of the villages.
During the period
1960-1974, the agricultural sector expanded
rapidly, but in 1974, it was severely affected by
the Turkish invasion and occupation of part of
Cyprus. The Turkish forces occupied and displaced
non-Turkish population from an area which
accounted for 46% of crop production and much
higher percentages of citrus (79%), cereals
(68%), tobacco (100%), carrots (86%), and green
fodders (65%), while 47% of livestock production
also emanated from the area. Despite the
concentration of population in the less
productive part of the island, it was possible
through concerted efforts and heavy investment in
land improvement and irrigation to reactivate the
agricultural sector and to approach the pre-1975
production levels. Nevertheless, the occupation
of a great part of Cyprus is still causing
problems in the agricultural sector, particularly
with respect to the difficulties faced by
displaced farmers, the shortages of fodders, the
rational development of water resources, the
spread of plant and animal diseases and many
others.
Despite the blows
incurred by the Turkish invasion the broad
agricultural sector contributed in 1999 at
current prices, some C£197,0 mln. or about 4,5%
to GDP and employed approximately 27.600 persons
or 9,6% of the total economically active
population. In the year 2000, agricultural
exports (raw and processed) reached C£62,6 mln
constituting 27,9% of total domestic exports,
compared to C£61,8 mln or 30% of total domestic
exports in 1999.
Cyprus%26rsquo;
agriculture may be divided into two major sub
sectors, namely, crop production and livestock
production, which, in 1999, contributed 60,3% and
27% respectively to the value, added of the broad
agricultural sector. The contribution of the
other sub-sectors was as follows: Ancillary
production (milk and grape products processed
on-farm) about 30%, fishing 6%, forestry 0,8% and
others 2,9%.
Development policy
aims at restructuring and upgrading the
agricultural sector a) in order to be able to
successfully cope with the conditions prevailing
in the European Union and international
competition, b) for further development of the
sector and c) for exploitation of the
opportunities created by European Union
orientation and the General Agreement on Tariffs
and Trade (GATT).
The most important
elements of development policy are improvement of
productivity and competitiveness, further
development of comparative advantages,
improvement of quality and structural and
institutional modernization.
Gradual
harmonisation with Common Agricultural Policy
(CAP) of the European Union has started and will
be the basic objective as regards the
Agricultural Sector during the coming years. As
regards fisheries, the basic reference point is
the Common Fisheries Policy.
More specifically,
the main objectives are:
%26ndash; Increase
of agricultural production and improvement of
productivity of the broad agricultural sector,
taking into consideration a balanced development
of agricultural sub-sectors, with emphasis on
competitive sub sectors and products.
Approaching
agricultural holdings/areas/zones as integrated
units and preparation and implementation of
integrated development programmes based on common
socio-economic, soil and climatic
characteristics. Areas may be grouped into two
main categories or zones, i.e. the
“Plain%26rdquo; and
“Mountainous%26rdquo; Agricultural Zones,
each one with its own development targets,
capabilities and prospects.
%26ndash;
Improvement of farmers%26rsquo; standard of
living.
%26ndash;
Maintenance of a balance in the market
(supply-demand) of agricultural
products.
%26ndash;
Sustainable agricultural development, taking into
consideration preservation of environment and
minimization of negative effects from
agricultural activities on
environment.
%26ndash;
Harmonisation with the European Union, with basic
reference points the Common Agricultural Policy
and the Common Fisheries Policy.
The targets of the
on-going development programme are satisfactory
rates of growth of exports, gross agricultural
output and value added of the broad agricultural
sector while productivity is expected to increase
at a relatively high rate that will reduce
employment in the sector.
In order to attain
the above objectives, the Government implements
various programmes and projects. An essential
component of many of these projects are the
provision of agricultural credit, cash subsidies,
interest on loan subsidies and other assistance
for the purpose of encouraging the development of
the agricultural sector while supplementing
agricultural incomes.
According to results
of the 1994 Census of Agriculture, the area of
agricultural land on agricultural holdings is
about 178 thousand hectares out of which about
118 thousand hectares is cultivated land (under
crops or fallow), as compared to 179 and 126
thousand hectares respectively of the 1985
census.
Reduction is mainly
attributed to the abandonment and destruction of
certain crops, such as vines, olives, carobs and
some species of deciduous fruit. Fallow land was
considerably reduced by using that land for the
cultivation of temporary crops, which showed an
increase.
Cyprus%26rsquo;
agriculture is characterised by two main features
namely:
%26ndash; Irrigated
agriculture, which includes, mainly citrus,
potatoes, other vegetables and melons, deciduous
fruit, table grapes and bananas.
%26ndash; Rain fed
or dry land agriculture, which includes mainly
cereals, fodders, olives, carobs, almonds and
wine grapes.
Marketing of
agricultural commodities is undertaken mainly
through private merchants, cooperatives and the
producers themselves though potatoes, wine
grapes, milk, carrots, beetroot, olives and
cereals go through state marketing
organizations.
Crop
Production
Thanks to the
diversity of topography and climate, a wide range
of microclimatic conditions exist permitting
diversified crop production. In the central plain
the main crops are wheat and barley grown under
winter rainfall. Potatoes, vegetables, legumes
and fodders are widely distributed all over the
island, while citrus orchards are generally
concentrated along coastal areas. In narrow
valleys at higher elevations of the Troodos
mountains deciduous fruits, nuts, vines and a
wide range of vegetables are grown. Viticulture
is very important in the hilly areas of Paphos
and Limassol districts, and the grapes are mainly
used for wine making, while table grapes are
grown in the southwest areas near the coast.
Bananas are cultivated in the Paphos
district.
Systematic measures
are undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture,
Natural Resources and Environment for the further
development of Cyprus%26rsquo; agriculture. These
measures have concentrated mainly on the
improvement of productivity through the
introduction of new and improved varieties of
crops, improved cultural practices, expansion of
irrigation and modern irrigation methods and
means, mechanization of farming activities
(cultivation, harvesting etc.), plant protection
and soil conservation in mountain and hilly
areas.
Livestock
Production
Livestock production
constitutes an important component of
Cyprus%26rsquo; agriculture. Cattle, sheep and
goats, swine and poultry constitute the main sub
sectors of the livestock industry. Also ostrich
farms for commercial purposes have been
established during the last few years.
Fresh pork, poultry,
meat and eggs satisfy fully local demand and no
imports of these items are realized. However,
local production of beef, veal, mutton and lamb
are supplemented by imports.
The demand for
pasteurised cows%26rsquo; milk for liquid
consumption is fully satisfied while the demand
for cheese and other traditional products made
from cow%26rsquo;s milk as well as sheep and
goat%26rsquo;s milk is met by 85% and
supplemented by imports.
All the required
quantities of evaporated milk, condensed milk,
sweeted or not, whole milk powder S.M.P. milk for
infants etc for local demand are
imported.
The efforts of the
Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and
Environment in this field are mainly concentrated
on the improvement of animal productivity through
improved breeding and management practices,
upgrading veterinary services for animal disease
control and cure, local production of feeding
stuffs, better nutrition of animals and
modernization of farms through mechanization and
upgrading the managerial capability of
farmers.
Interest of loans
issued by banks and other lending institutions
for capital investment for livestock development
is subsidized through the Integrated Livestock
Development Project in parallel with loans issued
by the government. Meanwhile, measures are taken
for harmonization with the European Acquis in the
livestock sector.
Fisheries and
Marine Research
Cyprus Fisheries
produced 3679 tons of fish during 1999 at a value
of over C£13.7 million, compared to 3600 tons in
1998 at a value of C£13,3 million. Fish
production is mainly derived from the inshore and
the trawl fishery territorial and international
waters as well as from aquaculture. There is a
small increase vis-a-vis the 1998 figures, which
is due to, increased catches in international
waters and aquaculture production.
The Department of
Fisheries and Marine Research is responsible for
the sustainable management of living marine
resources, the development and research of
aquaculture and the protection and research of
the marine environment.
As far as Fisheries
Resources are concerned, a number of management
measures are being applied and relevant
legislation is being enforced. In addition,
technical and financial aid is granted to
fishermen in order to develop
fisheries.
By 1999, there were
in operation four private marine fish hatcheries
and one shrimp hatchery farm on land, as well as
eight private offshore cage farms. In 1999, the
production of market size fish reached 1356 tons
valued at about C£4.82 million, while 18.6
million marine fish fry were produced, out of
which about 12.8 million valued at about
C£1,453.000 were exported. Forty-three tons of
shrimps were also produced. Five trout farms were
in operation in the Troodos area, which produced
66 tons of trout in 1999valued at C£260,000,
compared to 100 tons in 1998.
The construction,
improvement and maintenance of fishing shelters
are among the major activities of the Fisheries
Department and Marine Research. In 1995 a new Law
for the management of fishing shelters was
enforced. There are twelve fishing shelters in
operation - at Paralimni, Ayia Triada, Ayia Napa,
Potamos, Xylophagou, Ormidhia, Dhekelia, Larnaca,
Ayios Georgios, Latsi, Pomos and Pyrgos. Fishing
vessels are also harboured in the ports of
Paphos, Limassol and Larnaca.
The
Department%26rsquo;s activities also focus on
research and study of the marine environment in
the sea around Cyprus and the Eastern
Mediterranean covering inter alia the
following:
- Research,
monitoring and control of Marine Pollution,
including the prevention and combating of oil
pollution.
- Research in
Physical Oceanography, understanding the
hydrodynamic features of the Eastern
Mediterranean Sea.
- Studies of fish
population dynamic and stock
assessment.
- Research in Marine
Ecology with a particular interest in the
distribution of benthic organisms (phytobenthos
and macro fauna) in relation to their
environment.
- The preparation
and assessment of Environmental Impact Assessment
studies on marine environment in relation to
coastal development plans such as sewage,
aquaculture, construction of breakwaters
etc.,
- Conservation of
endangered aquatic species and habitats and
protection of endangered marine
ecosystems.
In relation to the
last item the Department continued its project to
save the green and loggerhead turtles breeding on
the island%26rsquo;s beaches. For this purpose
the Lara-Toxeftra area has been declared a nature
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