The Department of Agriculture paid €10.2 million in drought compensation to farmers in Cyprus

The Department of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment announced the completion in 2025 of compensation payments totaling €10.2 million to affected farmers and producer associations in Cyprus. In 2025, 2,516 applications for compensation for damage caused by severe drought were approved.

The department specifies that the payments relate to applications submitted and evaluated in 2025 and provide economic support to producers affected by the abnormal drought of the previous year. The aid was implemented under Measure 23 of the 2014–2020 Rural Development Programme and covers agricultural crops including cereals, citrus fruits, olives, vegetables, potatoes, vineyards, avocados, beekeeping, and producer organizations.

Recipient selection was based on official assessments, provincial office data, and registries. The majority of applications came from professional farmers; however, for approximately 50% of eligible areas of deciduous crops, walnuts, and almonds, no applications were submitted.

The government recognized the situation as an emergency and, by Council of Ministers Decisions No. 1540/2024 and No. 1383/2024, approved the payments and water resource management measures. The European Commission also provided emergency assistance of €3.5 million from the agricultural reserve, paid in September 2025. The department notes that the drought, which began in December 2023, is entering its fourth year and continues to monitor the need for additional support measures.