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Govt's priority to have a productive Agriculture Ministry

18/11/2014 12:32
The government`s priority is to have a productive Ministry of Agriculture so that it can contribute to economic growth, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Nicos Kouyialis told MPs on Monday, presenting the ministry`s budget for 2015.

At the same time he noted that in 2015 efforts to reform the rural economy and to enhance sustainable growth will intensify.

“Supporting the primary sector and developing the rural economy, placing livestock farming on the correct scientific and professional basis thus increasing its contribution to the GDP, as well as supporting rural and coastal regions with developments projects and creating new jobs constitute key aims for the government”, he said.

Kouyialis stressed that that the budget for 2015 is one of fiscal discipline which also follows a direction of growth. The budget, he noted, has limited to the greatest possible extent operating expenditure while an effort has been made to increase growth expenditure and to include development programmes with the possibility of EU funding wherever possible.

According to the data presented before the Financial and Budgetary Committee of Parliament the ministry`s budget comes to €242.38 million, up by 3% compared to 2014. Growth expenditure for next year is budgeted at €81 million, up by 50% compared to this year.

Kouyialis also said that there will be various support schemes fro new farmers in the first quarter of 2015. Eligible new farmers will receive €20,000 and will also be able to take part in various investment projects which will be co-financed by up to 60%.

Among others he said that a total of €4.5 million will be distributed by the end of 2015 for the purpose of restructuring of vineyards and modernising wineries as well as promoting the trade of Cyprus wine.

At the same time vineyards will also be able to benefit from EU funding for the period of 2014 – 2018 of the order of €18 million.