In the catalytic intervention of the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulidison the course of the management of foot-and-mouth disease, as well as issues related to it, such as the production of halloumi, are expected by the agricultural organizations, which will have a meeting with him on Tuesday morning at the Presidential Office.
The President’s meeting with the agricultural organizations, including the “Voice of Livestock Breeders” Association, will be preceded by a meeting during which the President will be informed by the epidemiological team and the Veterinary Services about the image being formed in relation to the foot-and-mouth diseasewhile there will also be an assessment and evaluation of the measures that have been taken, including measures to support livestock farmers, as stated by Government Spokesman Constantinos Letympiotis.
Representatives of agricultural organizations, speaking on Monday, noted that they are asking, among other things, to examine the way of implementing measures to manage the crisis, but also to ensure better cooperation and coordination in the part of monitoring the implementation of measures to stop the spread of the virus, underlining the need for efficiency. At the same time, they also raise issues of compensation, but also care for the chain consequences of the measures. Moreover, the agricultural organizations are also particularly concerned about the decisions concerning the production of halloumi.
Christos Papapetrou, President of the Panagrotic Union of Cyprus (PEK), stated that, “besides the technocratic veterinary issues, there are also political issues in the middle”, explaining that this is the reason why the catalytic intervention of the President was requested. “The state must finally appear, not just the individual agencies,” he said, pointing to the need for a more active presence from all agencies involved in the management of this crisis, coordination and cooperation.
He described the foot-and-mouth disease situation as a “war”, adding that there cannot be “civil wars” in the midst of this situation. He raised the question of monitoring the implementation of the measures provided for by the management protocol of the situation, noting that it has not been ensured that the restrictions that have been put in place apply in all cases and that there even seem to be movements of animals from infected livestock units to others.
He also added that among the requests is the preparation of a road map for how production will return to normality.
He expressed particular concern about halloumi, expressing the opinion that, due to the foot-and-mouth disease situation, there is pressure from circles that already in 2014 were asking for a higher cow’s milk quota in the context of the promotion of the PDO file for halloumi.
Expressing concern over the change in the quota of cow and sheep milk, he explained that the recent decree to reduce the percentage of goat and sheep milk from 25% to 15% is not based on valid data, stating that at the time the decree was issued, about 10% of goats and sheep had been killed, including non-productive animals.
At the same time, he said, an increase in the production of cow’s milk is recorded in the Ministry’s data, while the killing of cattle due to foot-and-mouth disease has already progressed, which he described as an oxymoron.
For his part, the Secretary General of the Union of Cypriot Farmers (EKA), Panikos Hambas, stated that the certification of PDO halloumi was based on goat and sheep milk and should not be lost.
As a major and central issue, Mr. Hambas also highlighted the dimension that exists in the management of the crisis within the Turkish Cypriot community, in the areas not controlled by the Republic. “The problem comes from Turkey itself, the EU has excellent relations with Turkey, and pressure must be exerted,” he noted, stating that funding to Turkish Cypriot livestock farmers should be a lever of pressure.
In addition to the need for a responsible attitude from all sides, Mr. Hambas also referred to the need for the services to be efficient and away from bureaucratic procedures, noting that there are still affected breeders who have not received compensation. He said that the political officers in charge of the agencies should exercise control over the implementation of the policies to ensure efficiency and speed in the processes.
He also noted that decisions should also be made on the chain effects of the measures applied to deal with foot-and-mouth disease, which also affect livestock farmers whose units have not been affected and therefore do not fall under the compensation framework that has been announced.
He mentioned, indicatively, the breeders who are faced with increased breeding costs, since they necessarily continue to keep their animals inside the units, after the closure of livestock units, as well as the breeders who shoulder increased breeding costs, due to the generalized restrictions on free grazing.
He said that although the request has already been made to the Veterinary Services to allow free grazing in the areas not in the restricted zones, a political decision should be made to implement this immediately.
KYPE
