On Tuesday, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment, Christos Senekis, presented the timelines for the resumption of operations at livestock farms affected by foot-and-mouth disease.
The Committee addressed the overall challenges facing the primary sector, with the discussion covering the issue of PDO halloumi, the reopening of facilities that were shut down due to foot-and-mouth disease, as well as rising production costs.
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In remarks made after the Committee meeting, the Minister of Agriculture stated that he presented to the Committee the Ministry’s actions and initiatives to support the agricultural community during a particularly difficult period for the primary sector.
Regarding foot-and-mouth disease, he said that in addition to the compensation that has already been paid, “we have established a special compensation framework for the loss of income suffered by affected livestock farmers, with a minimum coverage period of 12 months.”
At the same time, he added, the Ministry is proceeding with consultations on three additional plans, with a total budget of €10 million, for the restocking of livestock, the relocation of facilities, and the decongestion of livestock-raising areas. “Our goal is both to repair the damage and to rebuild the Cypriot livestock sector within a more resilient and competitive framework,” he said.
Regarding how compensation for lost income will be provided, the Minister explained, in response to a reporter’s question, that 50% will be paid upon ordering the animals, and the remaining 50% will be paid once the animals are settled on the farms, with a minimum payment period of 12 months.
When asked by journalists about the reactivation of facilities that had been closed due to foot-and-mouth disease, the Minister stated that he had provided the Commission with specific timelines for each region, “regarding when we will be ready for safe reopening.”
Regarding the increased production costs, the Minister acknowledged the pressures that farmers and livestock producers face on a daily basis. He noted that measures totaling €2.5 million have already been implemented to support producers with fertilizers, agricultural supplies, and agricultural diesel, “while we have secured an additional €4.6 million from European funds to address the effects of the prolonged drought,” he said.
For vineyard growers affected by downy mildew, the Minister said that both the National State Aid Framework and an additional de minimis aid scheme were utilized to expand the number of beneficiaries. He noted that applications are being evaluated and that the goal is to disburse the aid as soon as possible, based on objective and uniform criteria.
Regarding PDO Halloumi, Mr. Senekis said that “we remain committed to protecting the protected designation of origin, supporting sheep and goat farming, and safeguarding the export momentum it has gained and its significant contribution to the country’s economy.”
When asked about the risk of losing the PDO certification for halloumi if further amendments are requested, the Minister said that the risk of losing halloumi’s PDO status is “that when the transition period ends, we will not have the necessary quantities to produce the product as specified in the application.”
He noted that the government will facilitate a constructive dialogue among stakeholders, “if and when they deem it necessary to amend the application, using data that reflects the actual quantities of milk available at that time.”
He emphasized that support for the primary sector remains a steadfast priority of the government. “Through specific measures, the government is making full use of every available financial tool and is in constant dialogue with producers and agricultural organizations. We are working to ensure the sustainability and future of Cypriot agriculture and livestock farming,” he said.
For his part, the Committee Chair, AKEL MP Giannakis Gabriel, said in his remarks that the pressing issues affecting the primary sector were discussed.
He specifically referred to the increased production costs, noting that the government has not taken any measures in this regard but has merely acknowledged the problem. Specifically, he stated that “the price of dyed agricultural diesel alone rose by approximately 55 cents in 2026. Annual consumption is 22 million liters. In other words, farmers have shouldered an additional €10 million compared to last year,” he said, noting that the €800,000 support measure announced by the government is “utterly inadequate.”
Regarding PDO halloumi, Mr. Gabriel said that Members of Parliament had called for its protection. “We are very concerned. The government’s recent admission that by 2029 it will not be able to fully implement the certification standards while simultaneously safeguarding exports, and that it is considering a change to the quota, is alarming in terms of the potential risks to the product and the protected designation,” he said, adding that this constitutes “a clear admission of failure of the support measures for the sheep and goat farming sector, both by the current and the previous government.”
He called on the government to implement measures to ensure full compliance with the PDO halloumi specifications. “The protection of halloumi is the greatest asset for livestock farming and the processing industry, and under no circumstances should it be jeopardized in the name of serving short-term interests,” he emphasized.
The Chair of the Agriculture Committee acknowledged as a positive development the fact that compensation has been paid for the animals that were culled. “We are, however, seeing delays in the process of helping affected livestock farmers resume operations, which is a prerequisite for the payment of compensation for lost income,” he said.
He called for the swift and full resumption of operations and further development of the livestock sector, which, as he noted, is also critical for halloumi production. Mr. Gabriel stated that the Members of Parliament called on the Minister to act more decisively and to overcome any problems so that the affected facilities can resume operations as soon as possible. He noted that the Committee will review the restart schedules submitted by the Minister.
George Karaiskakis, a DISY Member of Parliament, said that they brought to the Minister’s attention “the serious problems faced by farmers and livestock breeders.” Specifically, he referred to inflation and the “unbearable cost of production.” As he said, the constant increases in the prices of fertilizers, pesticides, animal feed, and fuel “have pushed producers to their limits.”
“It is now a matter of survival, and substantive support measures are needed,” he said.
Regarding foot-and-mouth disease, Mr. Karaiskakis stated that they had requested immediate compensation for lost income and “a clear timeline for the resumption of operations at livestock farms,” noting that livestock farmers cannot continue to live in uncertainty.
He also referred to downy mildew in the vineyards, noting that “we insisted on the need to reassess the damages, particularly in the Pitsilia region, where vineyard owners who have suffered significant production losses remain excluded from the compensation plans.”
In conclusion, the DISY MP said that farmers and livestock breeders are not asking for favors, but simply to be able to continue producing and to make a decent living from their work.
Source: CNA
