Cold weather has wreaked havoc in the Paphos district, damaging 500 acres of potato crops, according to Agricultural Insurance Officer Kostas Neophytou.
Assessment teams began their inspections on Monday in areas including Polis Chrysochous, eastern and western Paphos, and semi-mountainous regions such as Polemi and Stroumpio.
Initial reports focus mainly on potato plantations. Damage declarations will be issued soon, urging affected farmers to submit their claims within 15 days. While it will take another 10-15 days to determine the impact on citrus fruits and bananas, most of the bananas have already been harvested, minimizing potential damage.
The bitter cold has hit potato crops hardest, with the worst-affected areas being Mantria, Timi, Kouklia, Geroskipou, Anarita, Achelia, Agia Varvara, and smaller plots in Emba and Kissonerga.
The Department of Agriculture is closely monitoring the situation and working to provide necessary assistance to the farmers.
This cold snap has posed an unexpected challenge, but efforts are underway to assess and mitigate the damage as efficiently as possible.