ORGANIC FARMING IN CYPRUS

HENS & OLIVES

ORGANICALLY FERTILISING OLIVE GROVES: Some organic farmers in Cyprus have begun recruiting retired hens to help organically fertilise olive groves. This is after farmers successfully introduced a pilot project involving the hens. The project revealed that hens helped to boost yields, counter olive tree diseases and helped to reduce food waste.

REVISING THE TREND: Egg-laying hens typically produce eggs up to the age of two. They are then usually sent to slaughter but some organic farmers, have begun to revise this trend by supplying a new home for them after their egg-laying years. Hens can live up to 10 years if allowed to, so can enjoy a long retirement among the olive trees.

A SELF-SUSTAINED ECOSYSTEM: Organic farmers have also stated that their main goal is to create a bio-diverse, self-sustained ecosystem that can sustain high temperatures and long droughts. Bringing these animals into the environment and allowing them to eat ground cover helps fertilise crops, speeding up the cycle. This in particular has improved olive tree growth and yields.

A NATURAL PEST CONTROL: Farmers who have adopted this method of sustainability state that the hens reduce the presence of pests such as olive flies. They do this by pecking at larvae while simultaneously clearing surface weed cover.

A NATURAL FERTILISER: Hen droppings enrich the soil, so the hens in turn provide natural fertiliser for the olive trees. This process has proven to produce olive oil high in inflammation-busting polyphenols.

REDUCING LANDFILL: The back-to-basics approach also involves farmers collecting food waste donations to feed the hens. Feeding the hens with food waste reduces the amount of methane-producing organic matter going into landfills.

CYPRIOT OLIVES

RETIRED HENS

CYPRIOT OLIVE TREES

CYPRUS TO RECEIVE EU EMERGENCY FARMING RELIEF

Cyprus has once again recently suffered from exceptionally low rainfall and high temperatures. This has created a recent weather related natural disaster on the island that has has resulted in local drought. This has gone on to affect the overall production of several crops, including cereals, olives and vegetables.

As a result, European Union member states have approved €3.5 million in emergency support for Cypriot farmers. This aid will come in the form of financial relief that is to be equally distributed to farmers who have lost both production and income.

COLD SNAP HITS THE EAST OF THE ISLAND

The recent cold snap in Cyprus has caused major crop damage. Farmers in both the Larnaca and Famagusta districts, in the east of the island, have suffered from a devastating frost that has affected their crops. Potato fields in particular have suffered losses, raising fears of dramatic price increases in the coming months.

A SERIES OF DRASTIC ACTIONS

The cold snap has seen farmers take drastic action as they struggle to protect their livelihoods. Extreme tactics have included constantly watering fields overnight in a final effort to minimise crop losses. Constantly watering crops, so that frost does not settle, has seen farmers monitor temperatures and then begin watering crops until daybreak.

RUINED CROPS

Teams from the agriculture ministry have been working closely with farmers and have recently visited farms to help assess damage. Additional water for farmers adopting this particular tactic has been made available, but several crops have already been ruined.