Paphos banana farmers hope for season recovery after rains

Banana farmers in western Paphos are expressing cautious optimism following heavy rains in recent months and the restoration of the Mavrokolympos dam, which provides them with irrigation water.

Banana producers in the Peyia area hope that this year they will be able to obtain sufficient water for irrigation and return the industry to normal operations after a difficult 2025 season. Back then, due to severe water supply issues, many farmers had to cut back or even destroy parts of their plantations to save at least some of the crop.

According to the growers, banana plantations are particularly vulnerable to water shortages, as they require significantly more moisture than most other agricultural crops.

Farmers emphasized that the industry's sustainability remains at risk following last year's water restrictions. They hope that when developing the new water policy for the summer, authorities will take the specific needs of banana plantations into account.

Producers also called for the unrestricted supply of water from the Mavrokolympos dam for the irrigation of permanent plantations in the Peyia area to restore production, which plays a vital role in the local economy.