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7.—SUMMARY OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
l.—A summarized statement of any developments in the agricultural, forestal,fishing,mining, and other industries
of the Colony during the year under review, with a statement as to progress up to date. A special account should be given
of Government grants or other action for the development of the natural resources and industries of the Colony.
Cyprus is essentially an agricultural country, and the agricultural population is extremely conservative.
Nevertheless owing to the lower prices offered for exportable produce and the loss or partial loss of some nearby
markets for certain products on account of tariff or other restrictive measures, the necessity of searching for alternative
crops and markets has been brought home to producers and exporters. Furthermore farmers have shown an increased
desire to improve their methods.
In recent years the main agricultural developments were connected rather with marketing than production and
to a great extent these conditions applied during 1936. Better marketing and increased production were rendered
possible only by an improvement in the quality of produce offered. Local wheat production was protected by a
continuation of protective duties on imported flour.
The grading and packing of citrus fruit for eiport is now on a better basis and although the whole work is done
"by hand, the standards of various grades of fruits are much improved. The principal consuming markets again
"were the United Kingdom and Northern Europe, and owing to increased production and better direct shipping
facilities some record direct shipments to those countries were made. The fruit inspection service is working
satisfactorily and by regulations governing the exportation of citrus fruit and other scheduled products, by
intensive propaganda, advice and instructions and by rigid inspections carried out at the ports of exportation,
the standard of agricultural produce for export has definitely been raised.
The export of wines to the United Kingdom continued on the same scale as in previous years. The quality o
wine exported is steadily improving, but the bulk of village made wines are still of poor quality and quite unfit for the
better class markets. Co-operative wine-making Societies are, however, increasing in number and output, and the
quality of their produce, the making of which is supervised by officers of the Agricultural Department, is m u c h in
advance of that of other village wines.
A steady demand exists in neighbouring countries for cattle, mules and donkeys from Cyprus. Owing to adverse
conditions during the previous years of drought the supplies of *ni*-n«.1« are insufficient to meet the demand, but the
services maintained by Government at Stud Stables throughout the Island and the provision of premium donkeys
and other stud animals on loan have maintained and improved the quality of the stock and the numbers of animals
available for export are n o w on the increase.
Theflaxspinning and weaving establishment formerly at Zodhia has been transferred to Nicosia and the flax
scutching mill at Yeroskipos was conducted during the year by private enterprise with the advice and assistance of
flax officers of the Agricultural Department.
The provision of Tobacco Instructors by Government to assist the growers and instruct them in the proper methods
of growing and preparing tobacco was continued. The export of yellow leaf tobacco is now allowed only under a licence
to export held by the Cyprus Cigarette Company. There was little demand for fumigated tobacco. -
The silk industry was carried on under the close supervision of Inspectors, who are responsible by law for
encouraging and assisting production and giving advice. Prices are at present not such as to encourage increased
interest in this industry.
Grants were sanctioned during 1935 by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury from the Colonial Development
Fund for (a) Completion of the Agricultural Experiment Stations at Morphou, Saitta and Trikoukkia—£5,000;
(b) Purchase of Stud Animals for the Government Stock Farm—£2,000 and (c) Construction of Produce Inspection
Sheds—£3,150. Part of the grants were spent in 1936 and the balance will be spent in 1937.
Apart from these special forms of assistance to particular industries, the Agricultural Department of the Colony
continues to give advice, to encourage the cultivation of all suitable crops, to assist agriculturists, to control animal
and plant diseases, and, generally, to foster agriculture, the main industry of the Colony, in all its branches, by means
of it3 various organized technical services and by instruction given by itinerant agricultural officers.
The investigations to locate sub-soil water with the aid of the drilling plants were continued during the
year The amoant of additional water made available from these activities was 4,695,264 gallons per day. Fifty-two
wells were drilled, aggregating 7,072 feet of borehole, and of this number 25 wells were successfully earned to a
second source producing the amount of water mentioned above.
Owing to lack of funds re-afforestation by artificial methods had to be reduced to small scale experiments and to.
repair-pEting in existing plantations. Some 7,662 seedlings were sold to private individuals during the year.
Activity in the mining industry continued to expand, and the general outlook is encouraging. A n e w record
was attain-d in the production of cupriferous pyrites during the year under review; there was also a satisfactory
increase in the tonnage of asbestos fibre exported by the new Lessees of the Amiandos quarries.
T w o of the recently discovered gold-bearing deposits reached the producing stage and others which are still in
course of development, are expected to produce gold ore early in 1937. There ™ o » t activity m prospecting,
especkSy for precious metaU, and a la-ger number of prospecting permits were issued than in the preceding year.
There was a substantial increase in the number of persons employed in the mining industry.
A m o n g minor industries, carpet-making and broom-making showed continued activity.
Shoe-making and furniture-making are progressing. Owing to change in policy, the Forest Department gave up
l e t t i n g T ^ a S o r ^ e ^ n X t u r e a f d sale of wooden articles butcarpenters are continuing this method of working
in wood, following the original work started by the Forest Department.
The art of embroidery is also well advanced; a great number of girls and w o m e n are engaged cm needlework and
lace-making. Lace is in wide demand abroad.
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The making of stockings by machinery mainly for local use has spread considerably and the industry of
hat-making, for ladies, is gaining ground.