Farmers who suffered from the prolonged drought of 2025 are to receive €4.6 million in emergency financial support, after the Cabinet approved the measure this week.
The proposal was put forward by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment.
The funding comes entirely from European resources and was secured after the ministry lobbied the European Commission to activate the EU’s Agricultural Reserve. The aim is to support the incomes of affected producers and safeguard the viability of their farms.
Prolonged dry weather, high temperatures and limited water supplies for irrigation in 2025 hit agricultural output, causing problems for a range of crops and for honey production, and pushing up the cost of animal feed.
According to preliminary plans, the aid will cover producers of cereals, citrus fruit, olives and bananas, as well as beekeepers, sheep and goat farmers and cattle farmers.
Support will go to professional farmers affected by the adverse weather conditions, while special provision has been made for non-professional banana growers hit by the damage to the Mavrokolympos dam.
Detailed eligibility criteria will be set out in the relevant Support Scheme.
Payments will be made through the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organisation (CAPO), in line with a scheme to be drawn up by the ministry. Beneficiaries must be paid by 28 February 2027.
The ministry said the decision formed part of its efforts to support the farming community and strengthen the resilience of the primary sector against the effects of climate change.