Potato farmers in Cyprus are deeply concerned about the export of their harvests. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cypriot farmers are facing staff shortages, as well as shortages of packaging materials and transportation. Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment are even being sent to the countryside to assist with packing.
While potatoes are piling up in storage facilities and warehouses, affected potato farmers distributed free bags of potatoes to motorists at an exit off the Larnaca-Famagusta highway. Some potatoes are reportedly rotting, according to the affected farmers speaking to local media.
Many farmers also complain about the lack of personnel at packing factories at a crucial time for them, just before the start of the harvest season. An understaffed factory had to call in help from the Ministry of Agriculture on Thursday to pack large quantities that should have been exported. There was also a shortage of boxes to pack the potatoes.
Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture had to be sent to the factory to help with packing and storing the products, said Andreas Constantinou, a factory manager, to the Cyprus Mail.
“The pandemic caused enormous problems for them. The income of these farmers mainly comes from money earned through exports, which has not yet taken place and probably will not happen for the coming months either. The government is aware of the situation and its severity. They promised to help, but time is running out,” he concluded.
Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis said that a series of supportive measures from the Council of Ministers have been in effect “from the beginning.” So far, about 30 measures have been adopted and approved for the agricultural sector, amounting to approximately €20 million, he said.
Specifically, Kadis emphasized that potato growers were supported in the first phase with €1.8 million, and more recently an additional €1.5 million — which needed approval by the EU.