Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment Maria Panayiotou presented on Friday the Ministry's 2025 budget before the House Committee on Finance and Budget, that amounts to 516.7 million euro, recording an increase of 29% compared to 2024.

Speaking before the House Committee Panayiotou said that they will acquire ten aircraft for forest protection and that the purchase of the first three is scheduled for 2025.

The Minister also announced that in the coming days they will present an emergency plan for goat and sheep farming to increase milk production within the framework of the obligations for the traditional Cypriot halloumi cheese.

Panayiotou told the Committee that the budget contributes, among other things, to the implementation of the priorities and objectives for improving the quality of life of citizens in terms of sustainability, the utilization of modern technology to adapt to the consequences of climate change and the upgrading of the primary sector.

The Minister of Agriculture said that the proposed budget of the Ministry for the year 2025 amounts to 516.7 million euro compared to 400.8 million euro which was the initially approved budget for the year 2024.

She added that the budget shows an increase of 115.9 million euro or 29%.

Panayiotou  noted that the amount does not include the co-financed projects for which the managing authority is the General Directorate of Development, amounting to 39 million euro and 35 million euro for the years 2024 and 2025 respectively.