President Nikos Christodoulides spoke on Saturday of a coordinated effort by the Government and agricultural organisations to increase the contribution of the primary sector to the country's GDP. 

He was speaking upon his arrival at the 8th Rural Culture Festival of the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organisation, which took place on Saturday in Farmakas.

According to the Press and Information Office, President Christodoulides said that the Government, through the strategy recently adopted by the Council of Ministers, wants to substantially support the primary sector.

"It is not possible in a country like Cyprus that the share of the primary sector in the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is less than 2%. Therefore, we have started a concerted effort, together with the agricultural organisations and all stakeholders, so that we can strengthen the contribution of the primary sector to the GDP of our country, to upgrade the primary sector in our country," he said.

"I really believe that we have unique products. We have all the infrastructure that is needed. Yes, there are difficulties, for example water because of the climate change and some other challenges, which we will address through the strategy in order to achieve this goal," the President added.

In his address, President Christodoulides said the strategy for the primary sector was the result of discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture but also with the agricultural community, which, he said, clearly knows better the facts, the challenges and the problems it has faced, adding that this policy is directly related to the need to strengthen the mountainous areas.

He also said that a plan for the resettlement of young couples in the mountainous areas was recently announced, noting that due to the high interest in the plan he has requested an increase in the amount allocated, "so that we can bring our people back to our mountainous areas."

CNA/KA/EPH/2024

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY