King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands toured potato fields in Xylofagou on Tuesday, accompanied by Minister of Agriculture Maria Panayiotou.
The royal visit focused on Cypriot potato farms that rely on seed potatoes imported from the Netherlands.
During the tour, local farmers explained to the royal couple their reasons for specifically choosing Dutch seed potatoes for their cultivation practices. Queen Máxima showed particular interest in the farming processes, asking numerous questions about cultivation techniques and potato production.
The royal visitors inquired about challenges facing the agricultural sector, receiving briefings on difficulties posed by this year’s drought conditions and the impact of the extreme cold wave that affected Cyprus in recent days.
Earlier in their itinerary, the Dutch monarchs visited the potato farm of Georgios Andreas Ttofallis, who later told philenews that hosting the King of the Netherlands at his farm was an honour.
The royal delegation is scheduled to continue their agricultural tour with a visit to a potato packing facility in Liopetri.
The Netherlands, a global leader in agricultural innovation and seed technology, maintains significant trade relationships with numerous countries through its agricultural exports, with seed potatoes representing an important component of this trade network.
