Livestock sector faces health crises and compensation delays in Cyprus

Livestock farmers in Cyprus are currently dealing with a dual health crisis involving outbreaks of bluetongue and foot-and-mouth disease, which have severely impacted the production of milk and animal stocks. Sotiris Kadis, President of the Goat and Sheep Producers Group, reported that the spread of bluetongue is particularly severe this year, driven by increased humidity and rainfall that favor the insects carrying the virus, with Limassol province being among the most affected regions.

Simultaneously, Neofytos Neofytou, head of the "Voice of Farmers" organization, noted that recent culling and suspected cases of foot-and-mouth disease have delayed the reactivation of farms. This disruption has consequently hindered the government's compensation process for lost income. During a meeting on October 30, 2026, over 200 affected farmers were informed that the Ministry is expected to provide a written plan for compensation within the coming week, though the organization disputes the current presence of the active foot-and-mouth virus in the country.