Farmers in Kokkinochoria and Paphos, Cyprus, are organizing protests for July 22, due to concerns over reduced water allocations affecting their crops and livelihoods. According to spokesperson Andreas Karyos, Kokinochoria producers are set to gather near Xylophagou's ammunition depot, with a parallel demonstration in Paphos.
Karyos mentioned the peaceful nature of the planned protests but did not rule out "more drastic measures" should the situation regarding water quotas not improve. He noted that water reductions, which began in 2022, have severely impacted the southern pipeline and Paphos's Asprokremmos dam, leading to a 60% decrease in water availability this year.
Karyos pointed out the critical situation in Kokkinochoria, left with only 2 million cubic metres of water for the year, and highlighted the absence of alternative solutions, which could lead to decreased production and increased prices for consumers. Despite discussions with the Minister and Water Department, no effective solutions have been found, particularly affecting potato production. Farmers are advocating for an additional 3 million cubic metres of water to manage with the current resources and maintain affordable agricultural product prices.
Source: in-cyprus.philenews.com