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Agro-Industry Development
Agricultural
methods are
adapted to the island's hot and dry summers and
generally limited water supply. Spring and early
summer growth is dependent on moisture stored in
the soil from the winter rains, but summer
cultivation is dependent on irrigation. About
15.3% of the total land area is arable.
Most farmers raise a variety of subsistence
crops, ranging from grains and vegetables to
fruits. Since 1960 there has been increased
production of citrus fruits and potatoes. These
two commodities, along with grapes, kiwi, and
avocados are grown both for the domestic market
and as exports to EU nations. Principal crops in
1999 (in tons) included barley, 119,000;
potatoes, 170,000; grapes, 115,000; grapefruit,
33,000; oranges, 43,000; lemons, 19,000, and
wheat, 14,000. Tomatoes, carrots, olives, and
other fruits and vegetables are also grown. The
areas that have been Turkish-held since 1974
include much of Cyprus' most fertile land;
citrus fruits are a major export. Citrus
production in 1999 reflected a decline since
1992 because of continued dry weather.
The Agricultural Research Institute, through
experiments with solar-heated greenhouses, soil
fertility, water usage optimization, and
introduction of new varieties of grain, attempts
to improve the efficiency of Cypriot
agriculture.
By legend the birthplace of the ancient Greek goddess of love Aphrodite, Cyprus's modern history has, in contrast, been dominated by enmity between its Greek and Turkish inhabitants.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded the north in response to a military coup on the island which was backed by the Athens government.
In 1974 the island was effectively partitioned with the northern third inhabited by Turkish Cypriots and the southern two-thirds by Greek Cypriots.
A "Green Line" - dividing the two parts from Morphou through Nicosia to Famagusta - is patrolled by United Nations troops.
The UN drew up the Green Line as a ceasefire demarcation line in 1963 after intervening to end communal tension. It became impassable after the Turkish invasion of 1974, except for designated crossing points.
The island's partition has been in place since 1974
In 1983 the Turkish-held area declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The status of Northern Cyprus as a separate entity is recognised only by Turkey, which keeps around 30,000 troops in the north of the island.
The prospect of EU enlargement concentrated minds in the search for a settlement. UN-sponsored negotiations continued throughout 2002 and a peace plan was tabled. Soon afterwards the EU invited Cyprus to become a member.
But hopes that the island could join united were dashed when leaders of the Turkish and Greek communities failed to agree to the UN plan by the March 2003 deadline.
In the months that followed travel restrictions were eased, enabling people to cross the border for the first time in nearly 30 years, raising hopes that progress might be on the way.
As EU entry approached, a revised UN reunification plan was put to both communities in twin referendums in April 2004.
The plan was endorsed by Turkish Cypriots - though not by their then leader Rauf Denktash - but overwhelmingly rejected by Greek Cypriots. Because both sides had to approve the proposals, the island remained divided as it joined the EU in May. EU laws and benefits apply only to the Greek Cypriot community.
More than two years later, hopes of progress were rekindled at UN-sponsored talks between Cypriot President Tassos Papadopolous and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. The two agreed on a series of confidence-building measures and contacts between the communities.
Hopes were given further impetus by the election of Demetris Christophas as president in February 2008. He immediately began talks with Mehmet Ali Talat on reuniting the country as a bizonal federal state.
However, the initial optimism faded as talks made only slow progress through 2008, and hopes for a deal were dealt a blow by the victory of right-wing nationalists at parliamentary elections in northern Cyprus in April 2009.
Turkey has a particular interest in seeing the situation resolved as its own EU aspirations are linked to the island's future.
Communist Party leader Demetris Christofias won the presidential election of February 2008 by a big margin.
President Demetris Christofias
Ending the 34-year-old division of the island was the main campaign theme of Mr Christofias, a builder's son from a village now in Turkish-held Northern Cyprus.
His election gave new impetus to talks aimed at reunifying the island as part of the EU, but hoped-for early progress turned out to be elusive.
Mr Christofias was educated in the Soviet Union and is a fluent Russian-speaker. He joined the communist-rooted AKEL party at the age of 14 and rose through its ranks to become leader in 1988. He has a penchant for wearing Che Guevara T-shirts.
Mr Christofias was elected president of the Cypriot House of Representatives in 2001 and won re-election in 2006.
Turkish Cypriot leader: Mehmet Ali Talat
Mehmet Ali Talat favours reunification
Mehmet Ali Talat of the centre-left Republican Turkish Party won a convincing victory in presidential elections in the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in April 2005.
Unlike his veteran predecessor, Rauf Denktash who retired after leading the Turkish Cypriot community for three decades, he would like to see reunification and membership of the EU for the whole island.
He campaigned strongly in favour of the UN reunification plan which was put to a referendum in 2004 when the Turkish Cypriot community gave it firm backing.
In 2008, he began talks on reunification with the new left-wing Greek Cypriot leader, Demetris Christofias.
However, frustration over the slow progress helped the nationalist National Unity Party, which favours unification with Turkey, win parliamentary elections in April 2009, effectively tying Mr Talat's hands in the negotiations.
Mr Talat was born in 1952. He has a degree in electrical engineering from Ankara University and speaks fluent English.
The Cypriot media mirror the island's political division, with the Turkish-controlled zone in the north operating its own press and broadcasters.
State-run radio and TV compete with private operators, and relays of Greek and Turkish stations are on air across the island. Nicosia officials say the switch from analogue to digital TV broadcasting will be made in 2011.
Obstacles to the free flow of news across across the divide weigh heavily on journalists, Reporters Without Borders said in its last account of media freedom on the island (2006).
There were around 325,000 internet users by March 2008 (Internetworldstats).
Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) - public, operates Radio 1 (in Greek), Radio 2 (in English, Turkish, Armenian), Radio 3 (in Greek) and Love Radio
Country profile:
Cyprus
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