The Union of Goat and Sheep Producers’ Groups is submitting a request for emergency financial support for goat and sheep farmers due to the measures to prevent and control foot-and-mouth diseasein a letter to the Minister of Agriculture, which it has made public in the media.
AdvertisementIn the letter, the Association notes that it fully recognizes the need for strict measures to protect public and animal health; however, it adds that the implementation of these measures “has placed an unbearable financial burden on producers, who are being asked to shoulder on their own the cost of a public health emergency that directly affects the viability of their operations.”
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It refers to the impact of restrictions on the movement of animals and the prolonged delay in bringing lambs and kids to market, as well as the decline in the selling price of lambs and kids, “a situation that further exacerbates the economic position of producers.”
Producers report that even if grazing restrictions were lifted, the increased feed costs might be mitigated but would not be fully addressed.
AdvertisementIn their letter to the Minister, they are requesting the immediate provision of emergency financial aid for all dairy goat and sheep farmers to cover the increase in feed costs to date, a subsidy for part of the increased feed costs for as long as the restrictive measures remain in place, and compensation for lambs and kids that remain on farms due to restrictions on movement and import.
They are also calling for immediate support for the storage of lambs and kids that cannot be absorbed by the market, the conduct of a comprehensive economic study to assess the actual impact of the measures on the sheep and goat farming sector, and the implementation of a permanent support mechanism for producers in the event of animal diseases and extraordinarypublic health crises, so as to ensure immediate and fair compensation for those affected.
Advertisement“Failure to provide timely support to producers could lead to serious and irreversible consequences for the sector, including loss of income, the abandonment of farms, and a weakening of domestic production,” the Association concludes.
