Irrigation problems threaten banana crops in Cyprus

Banana growers in Cyprus’ Paphos district are facing severe difficulties due to ongoing water shortages. Farmers say the water currently allocated for irrigation is not enough to sustain their plantations.

The issue was discussed at a recent meeting attended by local officials, MPs, and farmers. The chairman of the local banana farmers’ association, Moses Peyiotis, said the situation has become unsustainable. A farmer from Peyia said incomes are dropping and farmers are struggling to survive. Some participants warned that protest actions may follow if the government does not intervene.

Concerns about insufficient water supply had already been raised in January. At that time, farmers requested the government maintain previous water allotments to help preserve their crops. Officials, including the Paphos district governor, supported these calls and asked for equal treatment for banana producers.

Droushia’s deputy mayor noted that the full impact of the water shortage has not yet been assessed. Earlier this year, farmers expressed frustration when mobile desalination units from the UAE were sent only to Limassol. Following criticism, one unit was eventually relocated to Kouklia in the Paphos district.

Other officials have called for long-term solutions. These include building new dams, expanding existing ones, and installing better irrigation systems to reduce water waste. The problem has been worsened by damage to local infrastructure, including the draining of the Mavrokolympos reservoir and the destruction of a desalination plant in a fire last December.

source: cyprus-mail.com

photo: istockphoto.com