Kyperounta farmers are counting their losses from Tuesday’s 40 minute hail storm that devastated orchards, vineyards and vegetable gardens.
Community leader Yiorgos Panayiotou told Phileleftheros that the hail appears to have completely destroyed the apple and grape production, as well as the vegetable gardens.
“All those who depend on agriculture for their livelihood have been destroyed,” he said.
This was the third and most destructive hail storm in the area this year, he added.
“After yesterday’s hail storm not a single apple is left on the trees. Grapes and vegetables have also been destroyed,” said Christos Papapetrou, deputy secretary of the farmers’ union PEK.
He added that the union would again raise the issue of special nets to protect against hail with the government.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry said on Wednesday that payment has started of  50% of the compensation for the damage from the hail storms in early summer. Affected farmers will receive €1.5m before the end of the month.
As regards yesterday’s hail storms officials from the Agricultural Insurance Organisation will be assessing the damage as a matter of priority so that farmers can be compensated, it added.
