Farmers express concerns over delayed compensation for foot-and-mouth disease

Kyriakos Kailas, President of the Panagrotikos Association, has raised concerns regarding the delayed compensation for four livestock farms affected by a recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. During a statement to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Kailas emphasized that if affected farmers are not able to resume their activities within 20 days, the association will demand the immediate payment of compensation for lost income.

Kailas criticized the current financial support package, noting that the 4.6 million euros allocated from European funds is insufficient. He stated that the Panagrotikos Association had previously proposed increasing this amount by 200%, a suggestion that was rejected by the Minister of Finance. The association argues that a larger fund would have provided more substantial relief and allowed the inclusion of sectors currently excluded from the support scheme. While acknowledging that the implemented measures were a step in the right direction, Kailas warned that the primary sector continues to struggle.

Moving forward, the association maintains that the current aid framework fails to meet the needs of all affected branches. Unless the 20-day deadline for reactivation is met, the organization intends to intensify its efforts to secure broader financial relief for the agricultural community.