President: Halloumi prospects following PDO registration “huge”

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has said that the prospects following the halloumi cheese PDO registration are huge and the adoption of the 2021 – 2022 Rural Development Programme occurring at the same time is a “happy coincidence”.

President Anastasiades was addressing an event during which the Rural Development Programme for 2021 - 2022 was presented by Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis, at the Presidential Palace, on Wednesday.

The transitional period’s actions place a great emphasis on new investments and on upgrading the field of sheep and goat farming and the milk production, he said.

He further pointed out that Cyprus is making the most of the programme absorbing all funds available, which as he said is of great importance and confirms the government’s interest for sustainable growth of the countryside and of the quality of life of people living in rural communities.  

Today, he added, we are in the pleasant position of announcing additional actions of 97 million euros worth for the transitional period 2021 – 2022, noting that these actions will attract even more new farmers and introduce innovations in the field of agriculture which will make it more competitive.

Referring to the Rural Development Programme the government implements, President Anastasiades said it is in line with the EU Common Agriculture Policy’s framework, through which support is given to farmers, agricultural production, the environment and rural communities.

It contains he added, actions which aim to enhance the agricultural sector’s competitiveness, ensure a sustainable management of natural resources and the creation of additional jobs in the agricultural sector.

According to President Anastasiades the total amount disbursed from European and national funds during the period of 2014 – 2020 in the context of the Common Agriculture Policy came to about 700 million euros.