Sheep and goat farmers request financial aid amid foot-and-mouth disease restrictions

The Union of Sheep and Goat Producer Groups has formally requested emergency financial support from the Minister of Agriculture, Panagiotou, citing severe economic strain caused by foot-and-mouth disease prevention measures. Producers report that movement restrictions and delayed market access for lambs and kids have negatively impacted their business viability. Although initial measures to relax certain restrictions have been agreed upon, grazing remains prohibited, and stakeholders hold conflicting views regarding the pace of these relaxations. The farmers are seeking compensation to cover increased feed costs and to mitigate financial losses from animals currently held on farms. They also propose subsidies for animal feed and state support for the storage of unsold livestock. While authorities acknowledge the need for containment, the producers emphasize that the current costs are unsustainable for their units. Discussions are ongoing between the government and industry representatives to determine the scope of future aid and the potential lifting of remaining movement bans.