The adverse effects of climate change are the most important challenge for the transformation of Cyprus’ agri-food system, said the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Yiannakis Gavriel, during the proceedings of the first Europe and Central Asia Agriculture and Food Parliamentary Committees Chairpersons Regional Meeting which began today in Tirana.
In his speech, Gavriel referred to the negative impact of extreme weather events, such as prolonged droughts and intense heat waves, on crop yields and livestock productivity, and stressed the need for collective action to ensure food security and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
He further highlighted the need to adapt agricultural practices to mitigate the effects of climate change and stressed the importance of strengthening investment in the research and development of resilient crops and innovative technologies to help farmers adapt to changing climate conditions.
At the same time, he highlighted the importance of improving water management and supporting agri-environmental practices such as crop rotation, organic farming and the establishment of biodiversity islands.
The success of these efforts, Gavriel stressed, requires educating farmers to implement sustainable agricultural practices.
He referred to key aspects of Cyprus’ recently adopted National Strategy for Agriculture, which aims to enhance innovation and sustainability in the agricultural sector through targeted financial support.
He stressed that this Strategy promotes the efficient use of natural resources, the use of advanced irrigation systems and the implementation of smart agriculture solutions that improve productivity while reducing the environmental footprint.
He also referred to the Joint Declaration adopted at the recent MED9 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting hosted by Cyprus, which calls on the European Commission to develop a pan-European strategy for effective water management to address the growing impact of the climate crisis.
Gavriel underlined that such initiatives reflect the common concerns of Mediterranean countries and the urgent need for collective action to address the adverse impacts of climate change.
He also underlined the very important role of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources in conducting a meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders on agricultural issues, on the one hand, in addressing the concerns of farmers and, on the other hand, in enhancing the accountability of the executive in meeting the commitments under the National Strategy for Agriculture.
“Exercising thorough parliamentary scrutiny and monitoring progress in implementing these commitments is crucial to ensure that the ambitious targets set are achieved,” he concluded.