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Cyprus Agriculture occupies a significant position in Cyprus economy.
Cyprus became autonomous in the year 1960. During this year the keystone of Cyprus economy included Cyprus agriculture and farms. At this time the export of fruits and vegetables became possible due to irrigation projects.
95,000 people of Cyprus were employed by Cypriot farms during the early 1970s. The farms of Cyprus were equipped to export around 70 % of thier produced crops in the early 1970s. In comparison to the other service sectors the importance of agriculture in Cyprus was worsening. In mid 1970 the Cyprus agricultural output contributed about 18 %.of GDP.
After the division of the land in 1974, the Turkish community became owners of the land in the north. Tobacco, citrus and cereal crops(four-fifths) and green fodder(two-thirds) were farmed by the Turkish Cypriot community. The southern part of Cyprus maintained deciduous fruit orchards, growing regions of grapes, potatoes, olive trees, vegetables and carob trees.
In the year 1978 the number of people working in the agricultural field of Cyprus was 47,000. In 1979 the work force of Cyprus agriculture went down by 20.7 % and in 1987 it went down to 15.8 %.
The share of Cyprus agriculture in the country's GDP worsened. In the year 1976 the agriculture's share of GDP was 17.3 %, in 1979 the GDP was 10.7 % and in 1988 the GDP was 7.7 %.
Due to suitable climate and proper location near the market the agriculture of Cyprus occupies an important position in Cyprus economy. Irrigation projects of Government, tax policies and grants boost up Cyprus agriculture.
For the improvement of agriculture, forestry and fishing many attempts are being made by the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
As Cyprus agriculture provided rural employment, it was backed by the Government of Cyprus.
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