Pilot Rural Development Grant Scheme – Improving Dairy Hygiene on Sheep and Goat Farm

Focusing on sheep and goat milk producers this EU-financed pilot scheme (€500,000) was the first Call for Proposals to be launched under the RDSP. The main objective of the scheme was to increase the competitiveness of small ruminant producers by upgrading the equipment of sheep and goat milk producers in order to improve milk quality.

Twenty two grant projects were finalised.

In association with the EU funded Animal Husbandry expert team trainings were organised for grant beneficiaries in 2009 on the usage of automatic milking systems, and the general hygiene and maintenance of milking parlours.

First Rural Development Grant Scheme  – Improving Agricultural Production

The overall objective of the First Rural Development grant scheme (€5.0 million) financed by EU was the modernisation, improvement and upgrading of agricultural and horticultural production. It targeted the introduction of new technologies to improve quality and safety standards, as well as improving the environmental and occupational safety, hygiene and animal welfare status of agricultural holdings. Priorities the scheme addressed are dairy production, crop production and horticultural production.

Following the launch of the scheme on 19 December 2008 a total of 450 applications were received and 133 awarded projects were finalised by September 2011.

Second Rural Development Grant Scheme – Supporting Rural Enterprise

The EU-financed Second Rural Development Grant Scheme, totalling €5 million, focused on post-harvest technologies, dairy processing, rural tourism, rural enterprises, and fisheries and aquaculture. The overall objective of this grant scheme was to modernise, improve and upgrade the post-harvest, processing and marketing of agricultural products and to develop alternative rural incomes including artisanal fisheries. It targeted the introduction of new technologies to improve quality and safety standards, as well as improving the environmental status, occupational safety and hygiene.

Following the launch of the scheme on 25 June 2009 a total of 125 applications were received. A total of 37 awarded projects, spread across the five measures were finalised by June 2012.

Third Rural Development Grant Scheme – Increasing Competitiveness, Diversification and Sustainability

The overall objective of EU-financed Third Rural Development grant scheme, totalling € 3 million, is to increase the competitiveness of the Turkish Cypriot community’s rural economy by enhancing cooperation among producers and other rural economic actors, provide support to sustainable farming and small scale processing investments, strengthen agricultural production sectors and increase diversification of activities such as small-scale tourism. Two measures were included in the grant scheme guidelines: improving farm production and post-harvest capacities, and strengthening agricultural production sectors; and strengthening rural tourism-related activities.

Following the launch of the scheme on 23 January 2012, 164 applications were received. The implementation of a total of 34 awarded projects has been finalised.

The finalised projects included support to individual farmers, companies and NGOs for a mix of equipment, training and advisory services. The majority of the projects included provision of equipment to improve farm productivity and competitiveness. Other support included preservation of cultural heritage (e.g. handicraft lacework and specialist foods production), agro-industry machinery, solar energy systems and support to the olive and pomegranate sectors.

Fourth Rural Development Grant Scheme – Support for Investment in Agriculture

The overall objective of EU-financed Fourth Rural Development grant scheme, totalling €5 million, is to strengthen the agriculture value chain, including the dairy component. The Call for Proposals is divided into two lots, and each lot contains a set of specific priority issues to be targeted;

Lot 1: Improving crop production

1. To increase compliance with standards as a result of the implementation of local legal texts relating to plant health, food safety, environmental protection and/or occupational health and safety;
2. To promote the use of efficient irrigation systems and/or water saving techniques;
3. To promote the use of renewable energy and/or increase energy efficiency;
4. To increase the added value of marketed agricultural products and/or modernise the post-harvest (marketing and processing) capacity on farms;
5. To achieve marketing quality standards and/or Global Gap standard certification of primary agricultural products.

Lot 2: Improving animal production

1. To increase compliance with standards as a result of the implementation of local legal texts relating to food safety, animal health and welfare, environmental protection and/or occupational health and safety;
2. To improve facilities for milking and/or the cold storage of milk;
3. To improve facilities for the production of honey, poultry meat or eggs;
4. To improve biosecurity and/or the management of manure, waste water and/or waste materials;
5. To promote the use of renewable energy and/or increase energy efficiency;
6. To increase the added value of marketed agricultural products and/or modernise the marketing and/or processing capacity of farms.