Tensions are rising among livestock farmers in Aradippou amid fears that foot-and-mouth disease is spreading, with the outbreak’s radius widening and taking on alarming proportions.
In a sign of growing concern, farmers — with the assistance of the Aradippou municipality — say they have taken matters into their own hands by installing water disinfection tanks in the area. At the same time, they are voicing strong complaints against the state, accusing it of delays in implementing protective measures.
However, the Ministry of Agriculture denies that the measures were taken independently by the municipality. It says the municipality proceeded with the installation of wheel-disinfection units following instructions issued by the ministry. Technical specifications were also provided to the local authority.
According to information given to Philenews, the Ministry of Agriculture intends for the state to cover the cost of the water tanks being set up in Aradippou.
Aradippou ranks first in Cyprus for milk production. Its livestock zone holds one of the largest herds in the country, backed by investments worth tens of millions of euros. Farmers warn that if foot-and-mouth disease reaches the municipality’s livestock area, the consequences will be severe.
The Mayor of Aradippou, Christodoulos Partou, said the municipality took the initiative to install disinfection tanks in a bid to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease to the area.
Speaking from the site where the tanks are being placed, Mr. Partou said the municipality moved ahead with measures after recent developments and amid expectations that the Ministry of Agriculture and other services would act.
“Following yesterday’s events and because we were expecting the Ministry of Agriculture and other services to take action — and feeling the need to support our livestock farmers — we have taken the initiative and are preparing certain measures to prevent what has happened in Livadia and Voroklini,” he said.
He added that two disinfection tanks would be installed today, despite the public holiday, after municipal crews were mobilised. “In total, we will install seven or eight tanks, or as many as needed. At the same time, we will proceed with road closures to minimise access to livestock units by people whose presence is not necessary today,” he said.
Asked by Philenews what he expected from the state, Mr. Partou said the government could issue a general announcement or develop a comprehensive plan covering all livestock units.
“What we are doing here concerns our own units, and I do not know what is happening elsewhere. We want to protect our residents in Aradippou, in Kellia and in Troulloi,” he said.
When asked whether the municipality’s actions were filling gaps left by the state, he replied: “Certainly, the state could have done it — or even the farmers themselves.”
Elsewhere in his remarks, the mayor said he was trying not to contemplate the worst-case scenario, warning that if foot-and-mouth disease spreads further, the consequences would be chain reactions affecting the whole of Cyprus.
“Yesterday, I held an emergency meeting with the livestock farmers’ association. We discussed the actions we need to take. I have spoken with the farmers and they are also moving to make adjustments and strengthen the measures they already apply at their own units. We all understand that the most important thing is for both the farmers and the state to assume their responsibilities first. As a municipality, we are acting in support of our residents to prevent the worst,” he said.
Andreas Symeou, a livestock farmer in Aradippou, thanked the mayor for responding immediately to the farmers’ call. “We are in turmoil. We invested a lot of money, our lives and our property in this work to support our families and the economy of Cyprus. That is why we are here today while the works are underway. We sprayed our farms, we sprayed the roads and we will stay here with the crews until these works are completed,” he said.
Asked whether he had expected the state to take such measures, he said yes, adding that this was the responsibility of the competent services. “Unfortunately, if they do not change the way they operate, we will keep seeing such incidents,” he added. He also clarified that sampling checks have not yet begun in Aradippou.
Michalis Constantinou, a dairy farmer in the area, said producers were trying to protect their property themselves during the holiday period. He added that when the disease appeared in the occupied areas, all farms in the government-controlled areas took measures. “If some producers brought animal feed from the occupied areas, that is criminal. It is up to the state to find the cause of the transmission,” he said.
In a separate development, livestock farmer George Demetriou, at whose unit animals tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease in Voroklini, told our website that the Veterinary Services had asked them to identify a burial site for the animals, which they had done. He added that if culling is ultimately decided, around 4,500 animals from his unit and the neighbouring unit, where positive cases were also found, will be put down. Farmers whose units have tested positive continue to record animal deaths.
