EU-funded experts to meet Turkish Cypriots at agri fair

A highly-experienced team of international agriculture and rural development experts funded from the EU aid programme for the Turkish Cypriot community will be present throughout the annual agricultural fair taking place in Nicosia from 9 to 12 October at the exhibition centre.
Visitors to the fair will be able meet the experts and learn about the support they are providing to the Turkish Cypriot community as well as giving a chance for the experts to learn more about local needs.
Experts from the “Rural Development Support Team” will be on hand to discuss the needs of the rural community. This will provide input to the Rural Development Plan, which will define the priorities for over €17 million worth of forthcoming EU support to the farming sector and villages.
In addition, crop and animal production advisors will be present. They form part of a significant new programme of farm advisory services for the Turkish Cypriot community. The programme will provide free advice to farmers and producers on the full range of farming techniques from cultivations, crop protection, mechanisation and post-harvest technology through to animal nutrition, dairy hygiene and food processing. These advisors are keen to learn of the specific needs of the Turkish Cypriot farming community, so that they can be fully taken into account when finalising the design of their advisory services programme, which will begin in early 2009 and run through to 2012.
“We are delighted that our experts will have a major presence at the agriculture fair,” remarks Ms. Alessandra Viezzer, Aid Programme Coordinator from the European Commission, “This provides a fantastic opportunity for farmers and producers to express their training needs so that the advice delivered over the next four years is well matched to local demand, and so we encourage visitors of the fair to make the most of this chance.”