Nicosia, Cyprus. Around half of Cyprus’ livestock farmers are not expected to rebuild their operations following a recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, according to Petros Kailas, president of the Pancyprian pig farmers association.
Reluctance to return and differing disease strategies
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Kailas said many in the sector are reluctant to return under current conditions. He said re-entering the industry is difficult due to uncertainty about potential future outcomes, and pointed to differing approaches to disease management across the divide.
Kailas said authorities in the Republic aim to eliminate the virus, while Turkish Cypriot farmers are following a vaccination strategy and “will live with the virus,” describing the two approaches as “completely different scenarios”.
Second case in Paliometocho and containment efforts
Commenting on the detection of a second foot-and-mouth case at a pig farm in Paliometocho, Kailas said the development was “unfortunately expected”.
He said three neighbouring farms in the area, owned by siblings, are located in close proximity, increasing the risk of transmission. Kailas said samples have been taken from another nearby unit and results are pending, adding that he hopes it has not been affected.
“We are certainly in a difficult situation,” he said, adding that efforts are focused on containing the outbreak as much as possible.
Compensation timeline and EU approval
On compensation, Kailas said payments to affected farmers will take time, as further financial support depends on approval from the European Union.
He said an initial payment has already been made under de minimis aid, and that a response from Brussels is expected to take at least two months.
How do you think differing disease management strategies across the divide could affect efforts to control the outbreak?