Northern Cyprus Launches Early Warning System for Agricultural Diseases

Northern Cyprus has introduced an early warning system to detect agricultural diseases, with the goal of preventing unnecessary spraying and protecting the environment. This initiative, implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, is designed to enhance the fight against pests and diseases in agricultural production.

The new system was launched by the Agricultural Research Department and the Department of Agriculture within the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. It provides farmers with real-time alerts about common diseases and pests affecting crops such as potatoes, grapes, and olives, using meteorological data collected from climate stations located in Turkmenkoy, Güzelyurt, İnonu, and Akıncılar.

According to the ministry's statement, climate data analysis shows a high risk of late blight (Phytophthora infestans) affecting potatoes in the Messaoria and Güzelyurt regions. Farmers who are not yet using the protective fungicides listed on the Ministry of Agriculture's website are advised to begin treatment for this disease.

The early warning system allows for real-time monitoring of key data such as air and soil temperature, precipitation, humidity, atmospheric pressure, and wind speed, which can help predict the onset of diseases and pests.

Additionally, the system will enable farmers to accurately time their spraying and encourage the adoption of sustainable farming practices.

To support even more farmers, the number of climate stations will be expanded in the near future.