Ι. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 1. Introduction The Department of Agriculture is responsible for the implementation of agricultural policies, by preparing and implementing both development and supporting programmes and projects and by providing educational and advisory services to farmers and to rural population. The overall work of the Department of Agriculture aims at increasing the agricultural production and productivity, by promoting technical or institutional changes and improvements in the broader agricultural sector. Particularly, emphasis was given to the increase of the competitiveness of agricultural products, to maintain a balanced supply of products to the market and to improve farmers’ standard of living within a sustainable agricultural development. During 2008 particular emphasis was given on the implementation of the Cyprus Rural Development Plan for 2004-2006, as well as the new Cyprus Rural Development Programme for the period 2007-2013. 2. Structure and activities The Department of Agriculture is organized into 14 specialized Sections stationed, mainly, in Nicosia and six Agricultural District Offices which are sub-divided into Beats. Each beat has a specific number of communities. The Department has also Govern- ment Stations and Nurseries, where various agricultural activities are carried out. The Sections are as follow: 2.1 Agricultural Extension The Agricultural Extension Services were actively involved in the preparation and implementation of the annual Extension programme in order to disseminate knowledge, information, practices and train farming population on a wide range of rural development subjects and other related areas. In this context, during 2008, the staff of the six District Agricultural Offices paid 6.359 visits and organized 69 group activities. The Home Economics staff paid 554 visits and organized 311 group activities attended by 2.289 mainly, rural women. 2 In addition, 26 training courses and 6 Apprentice training courses were organized, attended by 632 farmers and rural women. Also educational trips to areas of agricultural and home economics interest were organized. Most of the training courses were held at the Agricultural Training Centers at Agros, Paphos and in Nicosia. As far as publicity is concerned the extension services played an important role in the issue of 17 bulletins and the organization of radio and TV programmes on a regular weekly base. In addition, the Extension Services are responsible for the promotion of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013. In this respect, various activities took place including issue of information bulletins, TV promotion, seminars, articles, e.t.c. The section is also in charge of the computerization of the Department. The extension section continued to update with new themes and input the website of the Department. The address of the website is: www.moa.gov.cy/da. Regarding the Rural Development Plan 2004-2006 the Section is responsible for the implementation of the Measure 1.4: "Training of farmers" and of the Measure 1.5: "Technical and Advisory Services for the farmers". For the implementation of the Measure 1.4, during the year 2008 the Section prepared educational programmes for 150 and 300 hours and the training of 88 farmers was completed. Regarding the implementation of the Measure 1.5 the sector has paid the approved Bodies and Agronomists for their services offered to farmers. The Section is also in charge of the training of the personnel of the Department of Agriculture. During 2008, 20 training courses were organized. The Extension Services are involved in the implementation of 4 measures of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013: The Measure 1.1-“Vocational training and information actions”, the Measure 1.2-”Setting up of young farmers”, the Measure 1.3- “Early retirement” and Measure 1.4-“Use of agricultural advisory services”, as well as the setting up of National Rural Network of the Measure 5.1-“Technical support”. Regarding the implementation of Measure 1.4: “Use of farm advisory services” the Extension Services have approved 28 Bodies for the preparation of business plans etc 3 for farmers. Other 5 Bodies for consultancy to farmers are in procedure of approvement. Regarding the National Rural Network (NRN) the Extension Services have set it up and started operating in December 2008.The procedure for hiring services for the staffing of the NRN have started in December 2008 and will be completed in March 2009. 2.2 Agricultural Economics In 2008, the Agricultural Economics Section prepared the Annual Development Budget for the year 2009 and the Medium Term Budgetary Framework for the years 2009- 2011, as regards development expenditure. It also redesigned and prepared a programme and performance based three-year budget for the period 2009-2011. The Section was also responsible for the preparation of the Annual Report on State Aid in the Agricultural Sector, the notification to the European Union of all measures providing for state aid, the evaluation of projects providing state aid and preparation of several new projects. This included the projects for the compensation of farmers for damages caused to agricultural output or inputs by natural calamities, unfavourable weather conditions or other disasters and damages caused by fire. It was also responsible for all matters related to the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, the World Trade Organisation and other EU agreements with third countries. Furthermore, it collected and submitted prices for certain products to EU and participated in a pilot project aiming at testing the prototype of the Information System for Agricultural Market Management and Monitoring (ISAMM) communication module. Section officers represented the Department of Agriculture in EU´ s Committees and, more specifically, the Direct Payments Managing Committee, the Committee on Agricultural Structures and Rural Development (STAR), the Rural Development Managing Committee, the LEADER Sub-Committee, the European Rural Network Coordinating Committee and the Regulatory Committee on Geographical Indications and Designations of Origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs. The Section also participated in the National Rural Network Coordinating Committee and the Cyprus Farm Accountancy Data Network Committee (FADN). 4 Regarding the registration of the name “Halloumi” as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), the section dealt with the four appeals that were filed against the application made by the Cyprus Cheesemakers Association. At the same time, the section forwarded the applications for registration of the names “Koufeta Amygdalou Geroskipou”, “Lountza Pitsilias” and “Lountza Krasati Kyprou” to the Consultative Committee. The name “Loukoumi Geroskipou” has already been registered as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). Furthermore, the Section participates in the Managing Authority, acting also as the secretariat of the Rural Development Plans. It had an active role in the monitoring and evaluation of the Plans 2004-2006 and 2007-2013. The annual progress reports for the Rural Development Plan 2004-2006 and the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, which covered the year 2007, were prepared and submitted to the European Commission and were approved. The Rural Development Plan 2004-2006 was completed at 31/12/2008. 70.000 applications were approximately approved. Total payments were over €170 million or nearly 100% of the available amount. During 2008, two (2) economic amendments were sent to EU in order to help utilize the 100% of the whole budget. The Section had the main role in the preparation of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, which was approved by the European Committee in October 2007. The approved budget for the Plan 2007-2013 is €325 million, while Additional National Financing of €55 million were also approved. The preparation of new software for monitoring, evaluation and management of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 was continued. The Section is also responsible for “Technical Support for the Implementation, Monito- ring and Evaluation of the Rural Development Plans/Programmes”. Technical support expenses, amounting, in 2008, to €255 thousand, will be fully covered by the EU. In addition, the Section is responsible for the implementation of the measure: “Technical Support and Preparation of Collective Development Initiatives at Local Level”, under which the recognised Groups organised seminars for the locals and started the preparation of their local development strategies for the new programming period 2007-2013. The members of the groups which seek to be approved as Leader 5 Local Action Groups were trained through specialized training programs organized by the Section. Members of the staff of the Section are responsible for the implementation of several other measures of the Rural Development Programme 2007-13 as they were responsible for several measures of the Rural Development Programme 2004-2006. Section Officers together with Agricultural Insurance Organization Officers participated in a committee which dealt with further examination and readjustment of the National Framework providing compensation to farmers for damages in agriculture in case of natural disasters, emergencies or adverse weather conditions which are not covered by the Agricultural Insurance Organization. Furthermore, the Government Support Scheme for the reactivation of affected farmers and the restoration of the environment in areas that are declared as fire-stricken was approved by