Two pig farms in Kato Moni to be relocated over two years due to odour

Cyprus’s Council of Ministers has approved a plan to relocate the fattening facilities of two pig farms in the village of Kato Moni in Nicosia district. The work is expected to take the next two years, with the aim of significantly reducing the odour that residents have been complaining about for decades.

This was announced by Commissioner for the Environment and Animal Welfare Ilias Myrianthous, who spoke on Friday evening at the traditional annual event in Kato Moni on behalf of President Nikos Christodoulides. The plan is being advanced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, which agreed it with the community and the pig farmers themselves.

Myrianthous called the odour and related nuisance from the pig farms “one of the most serious problems” that Kato Moni has been living with for decades. He noted that it directly affects residents’ daily lives and quality of life.

He described the relocation of the fattening facilities as an important step, after which the concern should noticeably decrease. The situation will continue to be monitored, however: the results will be assessed and, if necessary, additional measures will be taken. The Commissioner’s Office will remain in contact with the community and the relevant services.

Kato Moni has also been included in a housing revitalisation programme for mountainous and remote areas, which provides financial assistance for buying a home. In 2025, the village completed the renovation of the Agii Iliofoti trail — a “nature route” connecting the lower and upper parts of Moni; the work was funded by Europe through a grant programme of the Ministry of Tourism.

Myrianthous stressed that environmental protection is directly linked to the development of the area and people’s quality of life: air and water quality, proper waste management and the preservation of the natural landscape are all important.