Nicosia, Cyprus. Tensions between livestock farmers and the agriculture ministry continued on Tuesday after talks on compensation measures linked to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak failed to produce full agreement. Disagreements focused on compensation terms and procedural issues.
Meeting fails to produce full agreement
The meeting at the ministry brought together agricultural organisations and the newly formed farmers’ group, “voice of the livestock breeders”, but did not resolve differences over compensation terms and procedures.
“Today, we saw that we all agreed among ourselves, but in the end, from what I understand, we did not agree on anything,” said the association’s president, Neophytos Neophytou.
Farmers cite lack of access to proposed terms
Neophytou said the compensation package, which is due to be submitted to cabinet for approval, had effectively already been agreed by advisory structures within the ministry.
“We believe that, without having officially read, reviewed, discussed the results that they themselves have written on paper, we cannot agree,” he said.
Dispute over payments and criteria
The dispute centres on payments for culled animals, with figures reportedly ranging from €47 to €420 depending on category and documentation requirements. Neophytou said farmers had not been fully briefed on the criteria.
“We do not know exactly, and we cannot agree on anything. It is possible that that they are the best that could be done. However, since we do not know them, we cannot agree,” he said.
Other agricultural organisations express satisfaction
Agricultural organisations said they were satisfied with the proposed framework, describing it as reflecting prior consultations with the ministry. Farming union Pek’s president, Michalis Lytras, said the meeting was largely informational.
What steps do you think would help ensure farmers fully understand and agree to the compensation criteria?