Dialogos

Agricultural Organizations Demand Revocation of Environmental Fee from WDD

Published January 28, 2026, 16:02
Agricultural Organizations Demand Revocation of Environmental Fee from WDD

Agricultural organizations are demanding the revocation of the environmental fee imposed by the Water Development Department (WDD) for the extraction of irrigation water from sources outside Government Water Works. In their letter to the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Dr. Maria Panagiotou, they state that the fee is being imposed retroactively from 2017 to 2024, even in areas where irrigation projects have not been carried out. The organizations emphasize that the last five years have been particularly difficult for farmers due to climate change, the pandemic, drought, and water scarcity, while pointing out that access to water is not the same for all farmers, creating unfair competition. They believe that the imposition of the fee is unfair and further burdens farmers. Furthermore, they express disagreement with the imposition of a tax/fee for 2026 with retroactive effect from 2017. They call for the immediate revocation of the WDD's decision and an urgent meeting with the Minister to discuss the issue and find a fair solution.