Government grants support for the 4th Annual Goat and Sheep Milk Festival in Drouseia

The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of Cyprus has announced a state grant of €2,000 to support the 4th Annual Goat and Sheep Milk Festival held in Drouseia. The announcement was made on Friday by the Commissioner for the Environment and Animal Welfare, Ilias Myrianthous, who represented President Nikos Christodoulides at the event held under the President's auspices.

Commissioner Myrianthous emphasized the government's commitment to the goat and sheep farming sector, which currently faces significant challenges, including rising production costs, high animal feed prices, water shortages, climate change impacts, and the effects of foot-and-mouth disease. The official stated that the government is dedicated to providing both immediate relief to affected farmers and long-term strategies to ensure the industry's viability. A central point of the discussion was the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Halloumi, which was highlighted as a key Cypriot agri-food product and a vital international ambassador for the country's economy.

While the grant serves as a gesture of support, the administration continues to focus on broader measures intended to increase agricultural output and stabilize the local market. No further specific legislative actions were mentioned, but the event underscored the ongoing collaborative effort between state authorities and agricultural producers to protect traditional sectors of the Cypriot economy.