Archive:Agricultural census in Cyprus
- Data from November 2012. Most recent data: Further Eurostat information, Main tables and Database.
This article is part of a series of country-specific essays on the results of the European Union (EU) Farm structure survey (FSS) 2010. The FSS collects information on the structural characteristics of the agricultural oldings (land use, livestock and labour force) and is carried out by all European Union Member States every 10 years as an Agricultural census, with two or three additional, intermediate sample surveys carried out in-between. The present analysis of the Cypriot farm structure includes a comparison with the Agricultural census 2003, the first one to be conducted in the country in compliance with the EU regulations.
Source: Eurostat (ef_kvaareg) (ef_ov_kvaa) (demo_pjan) and FSS 2003 and 2010
_by_UAA_size_classes_CY_2010.PNG)
Source: Eurostat (ef_kvaareg) (ef_ov_kvaa)
Source: Eurostat (ef_lu_ovcropaa) (ef_oluaareg)
Source: Eurostat (ef_lu_ovcropaa) (ef_oluaareg)
Source: Eurostat (ef_mptenure)
Source: Source: Eurostat (ef_pmhouscatlaa)
Main statistical findings
Key indicators
As presented in Table 1, there were 38 860 agricultural holdings in Cyprus in 2010; from among the other European Member States, Denmark (42 100) and Slovakia (24 460) recorded comparable values. In Cyprus, 6 340 farms ceased their activities (- 14 %) over the inter-census period, as 45 200 farms were reported in 2003.
Also the utilised agricultural area (UAA) decreased (-24.3 %) between the two reference years: in absolute terms, it actually lost about 38 000 hectares. In 2010, it indicated the value of 118 400 hectares and covered 13 % of the entire country, which was one of the lowest shares recorded among the EU-28.
In 2010, Cyprus proved to be among the EU Member States with the smallest average area per farm, with only Malta scoring a smaller value. As the decrease in the agricultural area (-24.3 %) was sharper than the fall in the number of farms (-14 %), the average size of the holdings actually decreased in Cyprus (-11.9 %): from 3.5 ha per farm in 2003 to 3 ha in 2010.
As reported by the vast majority of the EU-28 countries, also the Cypriot agricultural labour force decreased over the period under analysis. If the number of persons regularly working on the farms is taken into account, figures changed from 86 240 in 2003 to 82 040 in 2010 (- 4.9 %). However, the agricultural labour force still represented 20 % of the active population [1] in 2010, one of the highest values recorded within the EU-28.
The Cypriot livestock, expressed in livestock units (LSU), decreased by about 56 000 LSU over the 2003-2010 timeframe (21.8 %) and indicated the value of 200 750 LSU in 2010; from among the other EU Member States, Estonia (306 280 LSU) and Luxembourg (167 660 LSU) recorded similar values.
Agricultural holdings
As presented in Figure 1, 90 % of the Cypriot agricultural holdings (34 820) reported less than 5 hectares of agricultural land in 2010. Despite the fact that they represented the vast majority of the country’s population of farms, those holdings were found to cover only a small portion (31 %) of Cyprus’ UAA. From among the different size classes, holdings with 0.1 ha to 1.9 hectares of agricultural land proved to be the most important, as 28 710 of them were reported in 2010, a value which accounted for 74 % of the total population of holdings. In terms of the agricultural area, the largest farms – those with 100 hectares or more of UAA – recorded the highest share (17 %), even though only 120 of them were reported in 2010.
See detailed data at NUTS 2 level for 2003 and 2010
Economic size of the farm
Between 2007 and 2010, the economic size of the agricultural holdings, which is calculated by adding all the standard output (SO) per hectare of crop and per head of livestock of the farms, decreased by about one fourth (- EUR 145 million) in Cyprus, indicating the value of EUR 459 million in 2010. From among the other EU Member States, the SO was found to be similar in Estonia (EUR 594 million) and Luxembourg (EUR 268 million).
Although they recorded the biggest decrease (-41 %) compared to 2007, holdings with EUR 500 000 or more of SO proved to be the most important among other farms in Cyprus (see Table 2), as they represented 27 % of the country’s Standard Output in 2010 (EUR 125 million). On the other end of the scale, farms which recorded less than EUR 2 000 of SO were the only ones to report an increase (+3.3 %), even though they only accounted for 3.8 % of the Cypriot SO.
Agricultural holding by main type of farming
In terms of the number of holdings, three main types of production were found to characterize the structure of the agriculture in Cyprus: the production of fruits and citrus fruits, which accounted for one fourth of the entire population of holdings, the production of olives (19 %) and the production of various permanent crops (18.3 %). As exhibited in Figure 2, holdings specialised in any other type of agricultural production recorded shares lower than 10 %.
If the economic size is taken into account, the ranking looks different as holdings specialised in dairying recorded the highest share (15.6 %). Farms dedicated to sheep, goats and other grazing livestock reported a slightly lower share (14.7 %), followed by holdings dedicated to the production of pigs (13 %) and those specialised in fruits and citrus fruits (11.6 %).
See detailed data at NUTS 2 level for 2010
Land use
The Utilised Agricultural Area (UAA) is the total area used by the farm, regardless of the type of tenure or whether it is used as a part of common land. It includes four major components: arable land, permanent grassland and meadow, permanent crops and kitchen gardens.
In Cyprus, the agricultural area was taken up by arable land (71.7 %) and permanent crops (26.5 %), which in 2010 accounted for 99 % of the country’s UAA. Both components experienced a loss between the two reference years: the arable land lost about 30 300 hectares of land, whereas the area of permanent crops decreased by 9 440 ha.
See detailed data at NUTS 2 level for 2003 and 2010
Arable land
As presented in Table 3, the Cypriot arable land was essentially taken up by cereals (33 280 ha), fodder crops (32 860 ha) and fallow land (9 470 ha) in 2010. Cereals (28.1 %) and fodder crops (27.8 %) reported very similar shares: the production of cereals lost 40 570 ha, whereas the land dedicated to fodder crops gained about 9 100 hectares over the period under analysis. The area employed as fallow land accounted for a smaller percentage (8 %), though it gained about 4 000 hectares between the two reference years.
See detailed data at NUTS 2 level for 2003 and 2010
Permanent crops
The land dedicated to permanent crops covered about one fourth of the country’s UAA and indicated the value of 31 340 hectares in 2010. From among the different harvests, olive plantations proved to be the most important, as they accounted for 9.8 % of the total agricultural area (11 640 ha). Vineyards (7 620 ha) and fruits and berry plantations (6 970 ha) recorded similar values and accounted respectively for 6.4 % and 5.9 % of the country’s UAA.
See detailed data at NUTS 2 level for 2010 and 2003
Livestock
Statistics on livestock use two different units of measurement, the number of heads (number of animals) and the livestock unit (LSU), with the latter allowing comparison between different types.
In 2010, 9 950 holdings were found to farm 200 750 LSU in Cyprus. Similar decreases were observed for both the number of farms with livestock (-21.2 %) and the population of farm animals (-21.8 %) over the period under analysis. As a result, the average number of livestock per farms remained stable, indicating the value of about 20 LSU in both reference years. Although the decrease in the number of farms with livestock was common to all classes of farms, holdings with 10 to 14 LSU reported the biggest drop (-48 %), whereas holdings with 50 to 99 LSU recorded the smallest decrease (-7 %).
From among the different farm animals, pigs were found to be the most common, as they indicated the value of 76 600 LSU and accounted for 38 % of the Cypriot livestock in 2010: -26.4 % compared to 2003. Cattle scored the second highest share (19.5 %) and indicated the value of 39 230 LSU in 2010 – they reported a 13 % decrease compared to 2003. Poultry (16.2 %), sheep (13.3 %) and goats (12 %) recorded similar shares over the total population of livestock; while goats (-32.9 %) and poultry (-24 %) reported decreases compared to 2003, sheep experienced an opposite tendency (+2 %).
Labour force
As exhibited in Table 5, 82 040 people were regularly working on the farms in Cyprus in 2010, a value which indicated a - 4.9 % decrease compared to 2000: in absolute terms, 4 200 people left the agricultural sector over the timeframe under analysis. The decrease in the agricultural labour force appears much bigger (-41.8 %) if the annual work unit (AWU) is taken into account, in which case figures dropped from 28 730 AWU to 16 720 AWU.
Management practices
Type of tenure
In 2010, the majority of the Cypriot agricultural land (51.6 %) proved to be farmed by the tenants (see Table 6); further 46.1 % was found to be farmed by the people who actually owned that land, whereas only a marginal 2.3 % of the UAA was reported as being farmed in partnership by the landlord and the sharecropper under a written or oral share-farming contract (or under other type of tenure) in Cyprus.
Irrigation
In 2010, the total irrigable area indicated the value of 40 310 hectares; the area irrigated at least once a year recorded a lower value (28 930 ha) and was found to cover about one fourth (24 %) of the Cypriot agricultural area. However, when analysing data on irrigation, it should be kept in mind that the extent of the irrigated area varies over the years according to the weather conditions.
As presented in Figure 7, olive plantations constituted the harvest that covered the largest share of irrigated area (24.5 %), followed by fruits and berry plantations (19.8 %), other crops on arable land (13.9%), potatoes (13.4 %) and citrus plantations (12.8 %).
In Cyprus, about 91 million cubic metres of water were used to irrigate 28 930 hectares of agricultural area in 2010. In relative terms, 3 246 cubic metres of water were used per hectare of agricultural land in 2010, a value calculated taking into account the area irrigated in the 12 months prior to the survey. Information on the amount of irrigation water was estimated using a multiple regression model which took into account the type of crops, the irrigated area and its location.
Animal housing
Within the context of the EU-28, Cyprus reported the lowest number of farms with cattle (280); these holdings were actually found to farm 53 410 heads of cattle in 2010.
In terms of the number of holdings, the most common type of animal housing was the one were the animals are free to move with solid dung and liquid manure (170). On the contrary, if the number of places is taken into account, the housing were animals are hosted loosely with slurry recorded the highest value (53 410 places). In Cyprus, the number of places for cattle was twice as high as the number of heads of cattle, which explains why the related ratio is 200.
Other gainful activities
In 2010, there were 390 holdings with activities other than farm work, directly related to the holding and having an economic impact on it; compared to the other EU Member States, Cyprus recorded the second smallest value, with Malta reporting the smallest one (270). Farms with extra source of income represented only a marginal share of the Cypriot population of holdings (1 %) and were only engaged in the processing of farm products.
Information on other gainful activities was collected by eleven category types depending on their characteristics; one holding could register more than one activity.
Organic farming
Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It is based on the minimal use of off-farm inputs and on the management practices that restore, maintain or enhance ecological harmony.
Although the number of holdings practicing organic farming was on the rise in Cyprus, in 2010 the area under organic farming covered a marginal 1.4 % (1 640 ha) of the country’s UAA.
See detailed data at Nuts 2 level for 2010, 2007, 2005, 2003 and 2000
Data sources and availability
Methodological notes Cyprus – Agricultural census 2010
In Cyprus, the first Farm Structure Survey conducted in compliance with the EU regulations was carried out as an exhaustive survey in 2003. Hence, the Agricultural census 2010 was the first one to be conducted in Cyprus after the country’s accession to the EU in 2004; the responsible body was the Statistical Service of Cyprus (CYSTAT).
Survey on agricultural production methods (SAPM)
In 2010 a unique survey was carried out together with the Agricultural census, the Survey on agricultural productions methods (SAPM). This survey collected data at regional level needed to establish agri-environmental indicators as indicated in COM final 508/2006 and to evaluate the greening of the Common agricultural policy.
Data were collected according to the specifications listed in Annex V of the above mentioned regulation, namely data on tillage methods, soil conservation, landscape features, animal grazing, animal housing, manure application, manure storage and treatment facilities and irrigation.
In Cyprus, the SAPM was conducted as a sample survey; a stratified sampling method was employed to select about 7 200 holdings from a population of 38 860.
Reference period
Information on the structure of the Cypriot agriculture refers to the 1st of October 2009 – 30th of September 2010 timeframe. However, data on livestock were collected with reference to the 1st of November 2010, whereas information on rural development measures refers to the calendar years 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Threshold for agricultural holdings
Given the peculiarity of the Cypriot agriculture, where the vast majority of holdings are small-sized, all farms having at least 0.1 hectares of agricultural area or 0.05 ha of greenhouse were surveyed in 2010. Moreover, holdings falling below this threshold but complying with a set of different physical thresholds (related to the heads of livestock) were also included in the target population.
Common land
Common land is the land that does not directly belong to any agricultural holding but on which common rights apply. It can consist of pasture, horticultural or other land. The treatment of the common land used by an agricultural holding might differ from country to country.
In Cyprus, information on common land was recorded under the category “other types of tenure”, using the same methodology already employed in the previous waves of the FSS.
Geo-reference of the holding
In Cyprus, information on the location of the farms was obtained through the geo code of the community where the holdings are located.
Economic size
From FSS 2007 onwards, the Standard output (SO), a new classification of the economic size of the holding, is used. The SO has replaced the Standard gross margin (SGM) used before. Nonetheless, for comparability reasons, in FSS 2007 both classifications are available.
Volume of irrigation water
In Cyprus, the volume of water used for irrigation was estimated using a multiple regression model, which took into account the irrigated area, the type of cultivation and the community where the irrigated area is located. The model included all types of crops, with the exception of the ones cultivated in greenhouses and kitchen gardens.
Context
European Commission Rural development policy aims to improve competitiveness in agriculture and forestry, the environment and the countryside, as well as to improve the quality of life in rural areas, and to encourage the diversification of rural economies.
As agriculture has modernised and the importance of industry and services within the economy has increased, so agriculture has become much less important as a source of jobs. Consequently, increasing emphasis is placed on the role farmers can play in rural development, including forestry, biodiversity and the diversification of the rural economy, in order to create alternative jobs and provide environmental protection in rural areas.
The FSS continues to adapt in order to provide timely and relevant data to help analyse and follow these developments.
Further Eurostat information
Publications
- Agriculture, fishery and forestry statistics — Main results – 2010-11 - 2012 edition
- Farm Structure Survey in Cyprus - 2007 - Issue number 82/2009
- Farm Structure in Cyprus - 2005 - Issue number 21/2007
- Structure of Agricultural Holdings - Cyprus 2003 - Statistics in focus 34/2005
Main tables
- Agriculture, see:
- Structure of agricultural holdings (t_ef)
Database
- Agriculture, see:
- Structure of agricultural holdings (ef)
Dedicated section
Methodology / Metadata
- Structure of agricultural holdings (ESMS metadata file - ef_esms)
- Methodological Report - FSS 2010 Cyprus
- Methodological Report - FSS 2007 Cyprus
Source data for tables and figures (MS Excel)
Other information
- Regulation 1166/2008 of 19 November 2008 on farm structure surveys and the survey on agricultural production methods and repealing Council Regulation 571/88
- Regulation 1200/2009 of 30 November 2009 implementing Regulation 1166/2008 on farm structure surveys and the survey on agricultural production methods, as regards livestock unit coefficients and definitions of the characteristics
See also
- census 2010 Agricultural census 2010
- structure All farm structure articles by country
- structure statistics Farm structure statistics
External links
Notes
- ↑ A value calculated over the total number of active people aged 15 to 64, as it is reported by the 4th quarter 2010 of the EU Labour force survey (LFS): Population by sex, age, nationality and labour status (1 000) (lfsq_pganws).