ATP 2004 The Cypriot agriculture facing water management problems

Introduction Characteristics of the Cypriot Republic

CYRPUS: A MEDITERANEAN ISLAND

MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT A semi-arid climate:  Irregular and low rainfalls  Unbalanced Rainfall-Evapotranspiration ratio → Frequent droughts

SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE ISLAND (1)  Insularity → dependence on ground water and rainfalls  Recent changes in climate: - increase of temperature: 0,5°C - rainfalls reduction: 1mm by year / nowadays 500 mm annually

SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE ISLAND (2)  Shortage of water → reduction of water resources of 40 %, Droughts are more severe than predicted

IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE Some key figures:  4,5% of the GDP  10% of the working population  30% of the amount of exportations

The Cypriot agriculture facing water management problems PROBLEMS How does Cyprus try to reconcile agricultural development and shortage of water, just before its entry in the EU ?

 Sustainable development: Development that allows to all populations which live on earth to satisfy its needs without jeopardizing possibilities of futures generations. (World commission for environment and development, 1987).

I.AGRICULTURE AND WATER 1.Agricultural activities 2.Water resource mobilization 3.Water distribution 4.Limits of the system II.SOCIOECONOMICS ASPECTS 1.Public awareness 2.Limits of the actual policy 3.Consequences III.MEDITERRANEAN APPROACH AND EUROPEAN PROSPECTS 1.Mediterranean programs 2.European programs 3.The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC): a north- European policy

AGRICULTURE AND WATER

MAIN CULTURES

AGRICULTURAL AREAS

FIRST MOBILIZATION OF WATER: PUMPING THE AQUIFERS

CONSEQUENCES OF OVERPUMPING: SALINATION

DAMS BUILDING POLICY (1)

DAMS BUILDING POLICY (2) Wide scale works:  106 works  total capacity : MCM ( MCM in the early 60s)

WATER DISTRIBUTION Southern Conveyor Project ( )

IRRIGATION  Agricultural Research Institute’s works (water needs of crops and irrigation methods)  Government subsidies

LIMITS OF THIS SYSTEM  Damages to ecosystems downstream of dams  Water losses in minor networks (30%)  Sociological consequences  Total dependence toward climate conditions → water recycling and desalination

SOCIOECONOMICS ASPECTS

 Agriculture is: - A water consuming activity - But an activity that enable people to earn their lives → How to conciliate these two objectives ?

AWARENESS, A MEAN TO CONCIALIATE ?  Increase awareness of government, actual and future citizens, farmers 1.Media 2.Organisms: the C.C.F, the A.R.I, the W.D.D … 3.Projects: Pitsilia Integrated Rural Development Project 4.Measures: price of water  Means that are used:

1.Media

2.Organisms:  The C.C.F.: Cyprus Conservation Foundation  The A.R.I.: Agricultural Research Institute  The W.D.D.: Water Development Department

3.Projects: Pitsilia Integrated Rural Development Project

4.Measures: price of water

 When economy is more important than ecology: Contradictions at the A.R.I.: water consuming species, counter season cultures Tourism: services = 75% of GDP However, this increasing of awareness has limits…  A slackening of vigilance: dams are full. Last three years rainfalls were good

 A system to improve: A lack of communication: inside and between institutions (A.R.I., W.D.D.) and with farmers A lack of organization: no independent ministry of environment Some mistakes: water recycled problem and farmers reluctance

CONSEQUENCES  A less effective increasing of awareness  A break in the evolution of farmers minds  Hard-to-apply measures: Ex: price of water: a less important waste or a more important pumping of aquifers ?

MEDITERRANEAN APPROACH AND EUROPEAN PROSPECTS

MEDCODESAL ( ): Mediterranean cooperation for water desalination policies in the perspective of a sustainable development WASAMED ( ): Water saving in Mediterranean agriculture MEDITERRANEAN PROGRAMS

IRRISPLIT ( ): Partial Root Drying: A sustainable irrigation system for efficient water use without reducing yield HORTIMED ( ): Sustainable Water Use in Protected Mediterranean Horticulture EUROPEAN PROGRAMS

WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE (2000/60/EC) This directive recommends to :  Create a management system  Make all players implied in water management participate  Reduce and control pollution  Apply water price policy

WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE: A NORTH-EUROPEAN POLICY  Cyprus: an island scaled management  A management of quantity for 40 years… …but…  A real chance to evolve on a long term A recent will to manage water quality Hydrographic network

CONCLUSION

 Agriculture: an important activity  A Mediterranean agriculture  An important work to mobilize water resource  Aware populations despite communications problems  EU entry: a step forward but a lot of work to do  a special conception of agricultural sustainable development

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