A recurring phenomenon of overconsumption from public irrigation schemes has been recorded in recent years, with the result that the final water use by farmers exceeds the initial approvals. This arises from a year‑on‑year comparison of the approved irrigation quantities by the Water Management Advisory Committee (SEDA) with actual consumption, according to the Water Development Department.
The scale of the problem is known to agricultural organisations and the other members of SEDA, as it is included in a note sent to them by the Department in the framework of the Committee’s latest meeting on 24 April. The note states that "the recurrence of overconsumption cannot be tolerated, as it undermines the planning of Allocation Scenarios and directly threatens the sustainability of water reserves."
More specifically, in 2023 the approved quantities amounted to 45.0 million cubic metres of water, while actual consumption reached 47.5 million cubic metres, recording an overuse of 2.5 million cubic metres, which originated mainly from irrigation schemes in Paphos and Chrysochous.
In 2024, the phenomenon intensified significantly, as 28.4 million cubic metres were approved and 39.5 million cubic metres were consumed, with an excess of 11.1 million cubic metres, almost entirely attributed to the same schemes.
Similarly, in 2025, despite particularly low approvals of 19.5 million cubic metres, total consumption reached 21.7 million cubic metres, recording a further excess of 2.2 million cubic metres, which, according to the Department, is again mainly recorded at the Paphos Irrigation Project and the Chrysochous Project.
"Therefore, if the above overconsumption had not occurred, there would today be additional available reserves at the Paphos and Chrysochous projects of approximately 16 million cubic metres, a quantity which, under the current conditions of reduced reserves, would have been crucial for meeting irrigation needs and reducing pressure on the water system in 2026," the Department emphasises.
In statements to Politis, the Director of the Water Development Department, Iliana Tofa‑Christodoulou, said that the problem of overconsumption is observed across Cyprus, but is more pronounced in the irrigation schemes of Paphos and Chrysochous. At the same time, she assured that following the upcoming approval of SEDA’s proposal by the Council of Ministers, instructions will be issued to the Department’s relevant officers to ensure, through strict controls, that approved water quantities are not exceeded from now on.
Negotiations ongoing
It is recalled that a dialogue is currently underway between the Ministry of Agriculture and groups of farmers regarding their request for the allocation of minimum water quantities, with the Ministry examining the possibility of revising the scenario approved on 24 April by SEDA.
At that time, following a proposal by the Water Development Department, it was decided, among other things, to extend again this year the zero allocations for seasonal crops in areas supported by the Unified Southern Conveyor System, especially for potato cultivation in the Famagusta free area, as well as in the Paphos Irrigation Project. This is because part of the water quantities in reservoirs continues to be used for water supply, with a characteristic example being the broader Paphos area until 2027, when water supply needs are expected to be fully covered by desalinated water.
At this stage, following reactions from agricultural organisations and producer groups, who after the announcement of SEDA’s decision sent relevant letters to the Ministry and publicly warned of mobilisations, the Ministry is examining the possibility of granting additional quantities, encouraged mainly by the small additional inflows of water into reservoirs recorded after the Committee’s meeting on 24 April.
