Cyprus livestock farmers have formed a new association under the name “The Voice of Farmers”, following recent protests over the handling of foot-and-mouth disease cases.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), representative Stella Petrou confirmed that the group was established on Tuesday night and already counts around 95 members.
The livestock farmers association is requesting an urgent meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides to present what it describes as serious challenges facing the sector, particularly regarding the management of foot-and-mouth disease.
In its announcement, the group said it aims to directly present its concerns at the highest level of government.
Key demands on disease management
The association is calling for a strategy focused on emergency vaccination, where scientifically feasible, instead of the immediate culling of all infected animals.
Among its main demands are:
- Special protection for local and rare animal breeds, which farmers describe as valuable genetic resources for Cyprus
- Mandatory second laboratory testing before any decision on animal culling, along with independent verification of results
- Targeted isolation measures instead of mass culling where possible
- Full and immediate compensation for affected farmers, including loss of income
- Greater transparency, with farmer representatives present during sampling and decision-making procedures
The livestock farmers association argues that current disease control measures are overly harsh and calls for a more balanced approach combining scientific assessment, transparency and financial support.
Farmers say their proposals aim to protect both animal health and the long-term sustainability of the sector.
Also read: Eradication of FMD in Cyprus still years away, farmers warn
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