Mala’s plan is set to turn Cypriot livestock farming “turn Cypriot livestock farming on its head,” forcing the government to dig deep into its pockets if it wants to keep its promise to rebuild the sector from scratch.
Mala’s two reports outline the complete revival and restructuring of the Cypriot livestock industry. As revealed by the newspaper “Fileleftheros,” the reform program links dairy production, meat production, genetic improvement, the siting of facilities, biosecurity, animal welfare, and environmental management.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The entire project is expected to cost the government 610 million euros. Of that amount, 372.2 million will go directly toward the recovery of the sheep and goat farming sector, which was hit hardest by the virus. 134 million will be allocated to the recovery of the dairy sector, and 41 million to improving biosecurity and developing new fattening facilities. The remaining 63.7 million will be allocated for scientific and research support.
SEE ALSO: These are the two Malas reports on the restructuring of livestock farming
The government has asked the scientific committee to conduct an immediate study to determine whether the state can actually cover the cost of the plan. At the same time, co-financing from European funds is being considered, since the €610 million plan is much larger than the €91.5 million allocated for the 2014–2025 period.
The Objectives
Stavros Malas’s plan also sets out certain goals that the Cypriot livestock sector is called upon to achieve through restructuring.
High on the list of priorities for the Cypriot livestock sector is now doubling sheep and goat milk production to meet the needs of PDO halloumi. Second, increasing the number of high-yielding animals by 10,000 each year to boost production. Third, increasing cow’s milk production by 10,000 liters per cow.
READ ALSO: Livestock farmers complain of unfair compensation for foot-and-mouth disease; how veterinary authorities are responding
Foot-and-mouth disease highlighted the problems caused by the high concentration of farms. The new plan calls for a 300-meter distance between farms, stricter biosecurity measures, and mandatory GPS tracking on vehicles transporting animals, milk, feed, and waste.
The plan calls for new large-scale livestock facilities, with 130 sites in existing zones and another 360 on state-owned land. In Paphos and Limassol, where there is a shortage of land, the plan even proposes the expropriation of private plots to create new facilities.
Watch Eleni Michael’s report:
