Smart agriculture part of push to increase GDP

Eleven actions were adopted by the cabinet on Wednesday to promote new technologies and introduce smart agriculture, as part of the government’s revised strategy to increase the contribution of the primary sector to the country’s GDP.

Speaking after the cabinet meeting, Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou said the strategy also included reducing dependence on the weather, attracting young farmers to agriculture, securing a steady income for farmers and promoting high quality products at affordable prices.

The actions will reduce the gap in prices from producer to consumer, utilise academic knowledge, promote cooperation among producers and support farmers in various ways, including training, funding and water availability.

Panayiotou also referred to the €10 million investment programme currently running, which will be open till the end of November and includes the actions of the government’s strategy.

She added that Agrocyprus was set in motion a few days ago aiming at marketing agricultural products in Cyprus.

Agrocyprus will be bridging the price gap between producers and consumers, enhancing the cooperation culture among producers and promoting transparency and participation in the market.

“The strategy for the development of the primary sector comes at a crucial time for Cyprus’ agriculture, giving it the impetus it needs to set in on a course of growth and the increase of its contribution to the country’s GDP,” Panayiotou said.