Agricultural unions support government measures for foot-and-mouth disease

The Cypriot Council of Ministers and the President announced a package of nine measures aimed at mitigating the impact of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak on local livestock farmers. Agricultural organizations, including PEK, EKA, Panagrotikos, Nea Agrotiki Kinisi, and Euroagrotikos, issued a joint statement endorsing the decision as a positive step toward industry recovery. The plan focuses on three main pillars: full financial compensation for affected farmers, income support, and the swift reactivation of livestock production. Additionally, the government has appointed Stavros Malas to lead a special scientific committee dedicated to the reconstruction and upgrading of the livestock sector. The agricultural unions have pledged their active support to Malas and his committee in their efforts to reform the industry. They described the package as a comprehensive initial step toward stabilizing the primary sector. The organizations expressed hope that these actions will effectively resolve the multi-faceted problems currently facing the livestock community.