Cyprus Facing Record Drought Since 1900

Cyprus has experienced record-breaking temperatures during the first two months of summer, making it one of the driest periods in terms of precipitation since 1900.

Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotu discussed this issue in an interview with the Cyprus News Agency. She also outlined the government's plans to combat the drought, which include €1 billion worth of projects for irrigation and water supply.

The minister stated that current water needs are met 100% through desalination and reservoir volumes. However, there is an average reduction of 33% in irrigation.

From September 1 to 3, Cyprus will host a summit of nine Mediterranean countries to address the drought and develop actionable solutions for the agricultural sector.

“Our goal is to create a unified framework for action and decisions so that all nine Mediterranean countries, facing common challenges, can come together, coordinate their efforts, and collaborate effectively,” said Maria Panayiotu.

Regarding the increase in fire incidents, the minister assured that Cyprus is in a state of operational readiness, with enhanced wildfire and aerial firefighting capabilities.

Currently, Cyprus has 11 primary aircraft and 6 secondary ones, based on rental agreements and international accords. However, the minister noted that Cyprus should start acquiring 10 private planes.