Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Maria Panayiotou assured that the government supports in tangible way efforts to develop rural areas as well as local producers.

 

Panayiotou attended on Saturday the 3rd annual deli meats and palouze (grape must jelly) festival in Pomitissa village, in Limassol district.

 

In her address, Panayiotou noted that the government continues to work to promote registration of names of agricultural products as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) or as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), in addition to preserving their unique identity and linking them to their place of origin. She stressed that this is an important step to the benefit of local producers and communities, as it creates new employment opportunities for local residents and reinforces their financial support.

 

She also noted that wine policy and strategy is aligned with the goals of the new Common Agricultural Policy, and that the Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027 takes into account the special production conditions in Cyprus, the processing andthe  marketing, aiming to completely restore the wine industry sector on a continuous path of development.

 

"The philosophy of our strategy is based on the comparative advantages of Cyprus: the historic auto-rooted vineyard, the rare native varieties and the uniqueness of the Commandaria (sweet wine made in Cyprus). We seek the competitiveness of Cypriot wines, the sustainability of the viticultural landscape, the perpetuation of native varieties, adaptation to climate change and ensuring food security," she said, explaining that it is for this reason that for the period until 2027, more than €22 million are expected to be allocated by the Ministry to winegrowers and winemakers, via the Cyprus Strategic Plan and the Interventions for the wine sector.

 

She also noted that on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the "Commandaria", the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment will organize in October, a major Wine Event at the headquarters of the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) in the city of Dijon, France. "This is a very important event for Cyprus - of international scope - since it will be part of the 45th World Congress of the OIV" she explained, stressing that "its appeal is guaranteed, since on the occasion of the anniversary celebrations for the 100 years of the Organization, many and important visitors, politicians, representatives of the 50 member states, technocrats, academics, wine merchants and other experts involved in the wine sector will be present".