Producers consider protests over mounting pressures
Cyprus potato farmers are warning that the country’s agricultural sector is facing a critical moment, as rising production costs, ongoing water shortages and unresolved policy issues threaten the industry’s future.
Producers are expected to decide on their next steps during an emergency meeting in Liopetri on Thursday evening, attended by farmers, agricultural organisations, and MPs. Protest action is among the measures under consideration.
Industry says production is becoming unsustainable
Speaking on Sigma TV’s Mesimeri kai Kati, Andreas Karyos, spokesperson for the Pancyprian Coordinating Committee of Potato Producers, said conditions have become unsustainable for growers.
“The situation has reached breaking point,” he said, warning that the primary sector risks decline without immediate government support.
Karyos noted that farmers have absorbed significant additional costs in order to maintain production, preserve export markets and ensure sufficient supplies for the domestic market.
He described the Cyprus potato as the country’s second most important agricultural export, saying producers have worked to keep exports competitive while maintaining stable supplies for local consumers.
According to Karyos, the main problem is not higher producer prices but the rapidly increasing cost of cultivation, which is making farming increasingly difficult to sustain.
Water shortages remain a major concern
Water availability remains one of the sector’s biggest challenges.
Karyos said potato producers received no irrigation water from the state during the severe drought of 2025 and were forced to rely on their own resources to keep production going.
Although weather conditions improved in 2026, he said producers have again been informed that they will not receive irrigation water.
He questioned how potato farmers are expected to continue operating while absorbing ever-increasing costs.
Concerns over subsidies and farmland
Beyond irrigation, producers have also raised concerns over changes affecting state, forestry, and Turkish Cypriot-owned land used for cultivation.
According to Karyos, the changes could affect existing lease agreements and place previous subsidy payments at risk.
He added that the uncertainty could also impact early potato cultivation, which plays a vital role in Cyprus’ export market.
Risk of farmers leaving the industry
Karyos acknowledged that some producers may decide to abandon potato farming altogether.
He warned that increasing reliance on private boreholes is leading to over-extraction of groundwater, driving up production costs while creating uncertainty about the long-term sustainability of farming.
Despite these challenges, he stressed that demand for Cyprus potatoes remains strong.
“The public wants them,” he said, describing Cyprus potatoes as a high-quality product. He warned that if domestic production declines, the local market will increasingly rely on imported potatoes.
Decisions expected after Liopetri meeting
Potato producers are due to meet in Liopetri on Thursday evening to assess the situation and decide on their next course of action.
According to Karyos, one proposal is to organise a protest in a busy public location within the coming days to highlight the challenges facing the agricultural sector.
He added that although the government had previously indicated it would examine ways to compensate farmers for additional costs and income losses following the 2025 drought, producers ultimately received a negative response, fuelling frustration across the sector.
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