Cyprus’s Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou has announced a €35.6 million support package for livestock farmers affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, with revised compensation rates significantly above EU reference levels. A farmers’ association says it was shut out of the process and is pressing ahead with an indefinite sit-in protest from Friday morning.
The compensation package
The minister said compensation rates for slaughtered livestock have been substantially revised upward following data submitted by farmers and agricultural organisations, which showed initial rates set by a three-member veterinary committee were too low relative to market conditions.
Under the revised rates, compensation for sheep and goats rises from a range of €43–€178 to €47–€420 for animals of high genetic value. For cattle, rates increase from €150–€1,500 to up to €2,500, depending on category and productivity.
The minister noted that EU reference rates stand at €1,000 for cattle and €140 for sheep and goats, and said Cyprus had chosen to set compensation at levels 150% to 200% above those benchmarks. First payments will begin next week, she said.
Beyond direct compensation, the package includes five additional measures: income loss support for at least 12 months for farmers who choose to restock; a state aid scheme for restocking with high-genetic-value animals, with the state covering the difference where restocking costs exceed compensation already received; coverage of feed costs during the period before restocked animals begin generating income; and the assignment of a dedicated government official to each affected farmer to guide the rebuilding of their unit.
The minister said additional temporary measures to protect halloumi PDO status and safeguard exports were also under consideration, with further announcements expected in the coming days. She said the outbreak had significantly reduced available milk quantities, creating pressure across the entire production chain.
Advance payments for income loss, milk and animal feed have been in place since late March, the minister said. She added that the package would be expanded to cover all affected farmers regardless of herd size, accelerating payments.
The total support package is estimated to exceed €35.6 million, the minister said.
Farmers vow indefinite protest
Despite the announcement, the association “I Foni ton Ktinotropon” (The Voice of Livestock Farmers) said it had received no invitation to Thursday’s Agriculture Ministry meeting and was pressing ahead with a protest at the Rizoelia roundabout, scheduled for 11 am on Friday.
Spokeswoman Stella Petrou said farmers plan to close one lane of traffic and remain at the site indefinitely.
“It will be a peaceful protest. We will close one lane and stay overnight. We will remain there indefinitely,” she said, adding that turnout was expected to match or exceed the 23 April protest.
Petrou said police have issued out-of-court notices to participants in the 23 April protest for illegal parking, but alleged that police themselves had directed the farmers to park in those locations.
“They issued out-of-court notices for illegal parking at the 23 April protest, but the police had told them to park there,” she said, calling it “deliberate targeting.”
“I want someone responsible from the police to tell me at which other protest in Cyprus has this ever happened — issuing out-of-court notices. If that is even possible,” she said.
Petrou said she had personally been summoned to give a statement to police regarding road closures at the 23 April protest.
She said the association had no contact with Panagrotikos or EKA, and objected to their participation in ministry talks.
“We are angry because most of them are not livestock farmers, and they sit at the table and discuss on behalf of livestock farmers,” she said.
“We have received no response from anyone — not from the Minister, not from Mr Gregoriou,” she added.
“We want people to stand by us and support us, because we are fighting for everyone,” Petrou said.
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