Republic of Cyprus Second Voluntary National Report - Sustainable development goals

47 GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) • Cyprus CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023–2027 is currently under preparation. The provisions under the new CAP require an enhanced Green Architecture and the consideration of Farm to Fork Strategy of the EU. • Cyprus will address all 9 specific objectives of CAP including measures for investments to new practices and technology in order to increase productivity, investments for the use of renewable energy in agriculture, investments in reducing emissions from animal husbandry, investments in circular economy. • Agri-environmental measures under Pillar II and eco-schemes under Pillar I will be introduced in order to significantly reduce Cyprus’ underperformance in sustainable agriculture (e.g. promoting practices that reduce the need for pesticides, increased budget for organic farming, together with significant higher target for land under organic, measures that include the substitution of chemical fertilisers, etc.). • The total budget for the 5-year programme will be more than €450 million and aims to transform the primary sector of Cyprus. Recovery and Resilience Plan • Resilient and competitive primary sector reforms: – Move agricultural practices from the 20 th century to the 21 st century by investing in a national centre for excellence in Agri-Tech. – Online, cloud-based platform for improving the trade and information symmetry in the fresh produce supply chain. – Genetic improvement of sheep and goat population of Cyprus. • Investments: – Enhancing the existing isotopic databases of Cypriot local traditional food/drinks, by developing a Block Chain platform, to ensure their identity. – Upskill the existing farming community and professionalise future labour force by investing in human capital. • Healthier children: – Renovating and upgrading the Makarios Children Hospital in response to the need for a comprehensive suite of medical services for children which currently does not exist, including digitalisation of patients’ personal dossiers. Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund • Baby’s dowry: – The project aims at reducing material deprivation, enhancing social inclusion, and reducing the risk of social exclusion. – A Baby Dowry Package, including basic consumer goods, such as equipment, linen, baby diapers and personal hygiene and baby care items, is provided to families with children born as from 1 January 2017 or that will be born until the end of the Scheme and who are beneficiaries of Guaranteed Minimum Income, or recipients of Public Aid, or who face any other particular problems as reported by the competent welfare Services. • Providing school breakfast to disadvantaged pupils in public schools: – The project was originally implemented through the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD). Once it was completed it was decided to continue implementing it through the European Social Fund (ESF) due to the great need faced. – The project concerns the daily provision of free breakfast (sandwich) to all needy students attending public education at all levels. It was found that, as a result of the financial crisis, many students do not take breakfast before or after arriving at school, which can affect their performance and contribute to the creation of negative feelings of sadness, lead to isolation, increasing the risk of early school leaving and social exclusion. It was, therefore, decided to implement the specific programme for poor students.