Cyprus migrant workers in agriculture sustain the island's farming sector amid chronic labour shortages. Christos Papapetrou, leader of the Pancyprian Farmers Union, shares insights on informal labour, work permits, and the future of rural Cyprus.

Get the enhanced episode transcript here 👉🏻 https://www.emmanuel-comte.eu/product/enhanced-transcript-30/.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nr56bhbKWIU

In this conversation, Emmanuel Comte speaks with Christos Papapetrou about how irregular migration, EU border controls, and local labor shortages intersect in the fields and villages of the island. From smuggling routes across the buffer zone to migrants attracted by welfare benefits, the episode exposes how Cyprus’ agriculture increasingly depends on migrant labor. A vital listen on how immigration is reshaping the rural Mediterranean.

This interview was arranged and edited by Andriana Lagoudes. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No 101034403.

00:00 Introduction
02:28 Evolution of Migrant Labour in Cyprus
07:06 The Role of Informal Networks
10:52 Why Farmers Hire Irregular Migrants
18:12 National Origins and Breakdown of Recruitment
23:16 Bureaucracy vs Legislative Blockages
28:22 Irregular Migrants in Rural Communities
34:34 Routes, Entry points & Processing Sectors
36:23 Looking Ahead - The Future of Agriculture and Migration