The Cyprus government has approved an additional €2 million for a scheme supporting young people entering the primary sector, President Nikos Christodoulides announced on Saturday, 3 October.
Speaking at the 10th Agricultural Culture Festival in Protaras, organised by the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organisation (CAPO), the President said the extra funding was intended to allow all young people who had expressed interest to benefit.
He said the scheme’s initial allocation had been exhausted amid growing demand, particularly among younger people seeking to enter agriculture.
Christodoulides also outlined financial support for farmers facing disease outbreaks, drought and rising production costs.
According to the President, more than €20 million had already been paid to address the consequences of foot-and-mouth disease, while €4.6 million had been secured to support farmers affected by the previous year’s drought.
He said the government had initially introduced a €2.5 million scheme to help the sector cope with higher costs and had recently approved a further €1 million scheme in response to additional needs.
The President acknowledged the challenges facing agriculture, including climate change, the protection of natural resources and demand for safe, high-quality food. He said the government aimed to build a more modern, competitive and sustainable sector.
He highlighted Cyprus’s Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan, backed by €454 million, as a key tool for strengthening agriculture.
Consultations on priorities for the next CAP programming period are due to begin on 8 October, he said, with Cyprus seeking arrangements that reflect the needs of its farming community.
Christodoulides said the revised national strategy for the primary sector covers 11 areas, including technology, attracting young farmers, agricultural education, fair and stable incomes, and the production and marketing of high-quality products.
He added that CAPO had distributed more than €2.5 billion to farmers since its establishment and said Cyprus was recording the highest funding absorption rates among EU member states this year.
Source: Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus, President Nikos Christodoulides’s address at the 10th Agricultural Culture Festival in Protaras on 3 October 2026, published on 4 October 2026.