Aradippou, Cyprus. Disy leader Annita Demetriou met livestock farmers on Wednesday to hear concerns over what has been described as the gravest threat in living memory to their professional lives, as the state accelerates emergency measures against foot-and-mouth disease. She said the country faced a major disaster threatening livestock farming, exports and economic stability.
Demetriou calls for containment and support measures
Demetriou said absolute priority must be the immediate and effective containment of the infection. She called for immediate and fair compensation, suspension of loan and tax obligations for affected farmers, and a comprehensive recovery plan.
She said, “Everything that can be saved must be saved,” adding that producers, exports and jobs could not be left unprotected.
Vaccination campaign and scrutiny of response
Her visit came as the government launched an island-wide vaccination campaign, while criticism grew over whether authorities acted with sufficient expediency after early warnings from the north.
Demetriou also demanded a full and transparent investigation into whether protocols were followed and where responsibility lay, saying accountability was unavoidable when warnings had preceded what she described as a catastrophic scenario.
Political responses and minister criticism
Akel secretary-general Stefanos Stefanou is expected to attend the containment area later on Wednesday to further address farmers’ concerns.
Agricultural minister Maria Panayiotou has faced accusations of avoidance and dereliction of office over her absence from an extraordinary session of parliament’s agriculture committee this week.
Livestock organisations and opposition parties said that despite awareness of cases in the north since December, preventive measures were limited and guidance to farmers insufficient.
What steps do you think should be prioritised to protect farmers while containing the outbreak?
