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Farmers Protest Over Subsidy Payments and Bureaucracy

Published February 12, 2026, 14:28

Farmers in Cyprus are taking to the streets with their tractors to protest the non-payment of subsidies and the problems arising from the lack of cooperation between KOAP and the Land Registry Department. The President of the Panagrotic Association, Kyriakos Kailas, emphasized that many farmers have not received the full amount of the subsidies they are entitled to, while checks should be carried out by the organization and not by the farmers themselves. There is a possibility for advance payment of subsidies, but if the payment is not completed by May, the money will be returned to the EU. Farmers had agreed on payment by early December, but many are still waiting for their funds. Mr. Kailas stated that there is a willingness to resolve the problems, but stressed the need for checks by the organization and not to burden farmers with bureaucratic procedures such as taking photos and sending them to the authorities. In addition, he highlighted the difficulties already faced by farmers due to extreme weather events and water shortages, emphasizing that they cannot be further burdened with bureaucratic red tape. The farmers' protest is scheduled for Monday, February 16th, at 11:30 a.m., outside the KOAP headquarters in Nicosia. The purpose of the protest is to put pressure on the authorities for the immediate payment of subsidies and the resolution of the problems plaguing the agricultural sector. The decision to escalate the mobilizations comes after a prolonged wait and lack of effective response to farmers' protests, leading them to the need to assert their rights in a more decisive manner.