Cyprus launches recovery plan after foot-and-mouth disease outbreak

A severe outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has forced Cyprus to cull over 84,000 livestock animals. In response, a specialized commission led by geneticist and former Health Minister Stavros Malas has developed a comprehensive 12-year recovery program covering the period from 2027 to 2038, with an estimated budget of €610.9 million. The plan aims to rehabilitate the agricultural sector while addressing systemic farming issues that have persisted for years.

Statistical data from May 2026 highlights the significant impact of the disease and subsequent culling measures. Sheep populations dropped by 41% to 14,642, and goat populations fell by 43% to 8,679 compared to April 2026. While pig numbers saw a modest decline of 3.5% to 43,066, cattle populations experienced a slight growth of 2.69%, reaching 1,375. Poultry numbers rose by 20.55% to over 1.4 million. While the industry faces deep structural changes, authorities are now focused on securing the funding and implementation strategy for the long-term sector restoration project.