Farmers across Cyprus have given the government until Thursday to meet three demands over the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, warning they will consider direct action if no satisfactory response is received.
The ultimatum was issued at a large gathering in Choirokoitia on Monday evening, where farmers demanded the immediate halt of culls of asymptomatic animals, the vaccination of all livestock, and prompt payment of compensation to those affected.
Farmer Anastasis Zannettou said those gathered were waiting for a positive response from President Christodoulides.
“We are expecting a positive outcome and hope that by Thursday this will be over. We demand that all animal culls stop until a new decree or protocol is issued, and our next decisions will be taken after Thursday,” he said, adding: “We will fight to make sure we don’t lose our animals.”
Asked what would happen if the answer on culling was negative, Zannettou said farmers would reconvene on Thursday or Friday and would likely respond with mobilisations.
At the meeting, a number of farmers said they had withdrawn their confidence in the Agriculture Minister and the Veterinary Services, calling for the removal of the entire leadership structure, which they said had “failed in its results” since last December.
They also called for its immediate replacement with individuals who have practical experience in livestock farming, veterinary medicine and epidemiology.
Among the demands raised by this group of farmers was the rapid distribution of vaccines to farms so that inoculation could be completed within days rather than months.
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