Cypriot farmers protest against ongoing delays in foot-and-mouth disease compensation

Seven months after the first detection of foot-and-mouth disease in the Republic of Cyprus, agricultural organizations are demanding urgent intervention from the Minister of Agriculture, Christos Senekis. The associations PEK, EKA, Panagrotikos, Nea Agrotiki Kinisi, and Euroagrotikos issued a formal letter expressing deep concern over the lack of a clear timeline for resuming professional activities. Neofytos Neofytou, head of the Voice of Breeders, reported that some farmers have remained unpaid for over six months, leading to extreme financial instability and the forced sale of equipment to cover basic needs.

In a separate development, the same agricultural unions are challenging a 4.6 million euro EU-approved aid package intended to cover 2025 drought-related losses. They argue the amount is insufficient and have petitioned President Nikos Christodoulides to utilize a regulation allowing member states to increase such funding by up to 200%. The groups stress that the combination of the ongoing disease crisis, rising costs for energy and fertilizers, and insufficient drought relief poses a significant threat to the national agricultural economy and the PDO status of halloumi cheese. There is currently no official announcement regarding a resolution to the funding shortfall or the specific compensation timeline for livestock producers.