Dialogos

Paphos Farmers in Despair: Government Cuts Water Supply – Further Reduction for Banana Growers

Published January 19, 2026, 09:02
Paphos Farmers in Despair: Government Cuts Water Supply – Further Reduction for Banana Growers

Farmers in Paphos are in despair as the Water Department has decided to cut off water supply for their crops, with a further reduction expected for banana growers. Already hit by last year's drought, which destroyed 40-50% of their banana crops, farmers are demanding 800 tons of water per donum to continue production. They complain that priority is given to watering greens, gardens, and golf courses over professional farmers, and are calling for immediate government intervention through desalination. One of the producers stated that he has reduced banana production by half and expresses concern about the impact on greenhouses, as they were allowed to plant summer fruits but are now being cut off from water. Furthermore, he alleges that farmers are forced to buy water from private individuals due to leaks, without any state assistance. The provincial secretary of the ECA Paphos described the situation as a “cry of agony and indignation”, calling on the Ministry of Agriculture to stop grouping producers and present a clear five-year plan. He emphasizes that the situation is critical and warns of dynamic mobilizations on the streets. Farmers point out that the Mavrokolypos dam could cover 40% of their needs this year, but the water is not being allocated for irrigation. The lack of a management plan from the competent departments exacerbates the situation, leaving farmers at the mercy of the circumstances.