Cyprus outlines recovery plan for farms affected by foot-and-mouth disease

Agriculture Minister Christos Senekis presented a roadmap to the parliamentary Agriculture Committee for the safe reactivation of 126 livestock units affected by the recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. The government aims to reopen the majority of these facilities by the end of December 2026. As an initial step, pilot testing has commenced at a farm in Pakhna using 28 sentinel lambs; if these animals remain disease-free over the next 21 to 30 days, formal restocking will proceed according to established protocols.

To support the sector, the ministry has established a compensation framework for income loss, covering a minimum of 12 months, with funds disbursed in two 50% installments linked to animal acquisition. Additionally, the ministry is consulting on two new plans totaling €4 million, focused on voluntary retirement from the profession and the relocation of smaller farms (50-150 animals) to safer areas. A further €10 million budget is under consideration for broader reconstruction, unit relocation, and decongestion efforts. The government has also provided €2.5 million in support for rising production costs faced by farmers during this crisis.