No carob collecting before August 15, ministry warns

The agriculture ministry on Thursday warned of fines of up to €1,000 for anyone who collects, transports or markets carobs before August 15.

They said they “attach great importance to the promotion of crops which are adapted to the special climatic conditions of Cyprus”, with the aim of achieving “sustainable agricultural development and adaptation to the conditions brought about by climate change”.

With this in mind, the government set August 15 as the earliest possible date on which carobs can be collected, transported or marketed, hoping to “protect the local production of carob”.

“Carob is a unique resource with a long tradition of adaptation and resistance to soil and climate conditions where other tree crops hardly thrive.”

The setting of the date will “limit the damage to the trees, which is caused by the collection of unripe carob trees, as well as to maximise the benefit for both producers and owners of carob fields from the trade”.

The government added that the implementation of the earliest possible date will “crack down on the the theft of unripe carobs for the purpose of their illegal trade for temporary profit”.

Those who wish to transport or trade carobs before August 15 are asked to submit a written application to Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou, stating their reasons for doing so. If Panayiotou is satisfied by the reasons, she will grant permission for the applicant to transport and trade carobs.