Cyprus unveils €610.9m livestock recovery plan — Cyprus Mail
In Cyprus, the government has unveiled a 12-year plan to restore the livestock sector worth about €610.9 million following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease that led to the destruction of more than 84,000 animals. The proposals of a scientific committee chaired by Stavros Malas were presented to stakeholders at the presidential palace, Cyprus Mail reports.
According to the committee, 104 sheep and goat farms lost 56,632 animals, 14 cattle farms lost 3,018, and three pig farms lost 24,483. Farmers have already received €17,288,069 in compensation, including advance payments and assistance for lost milk and feed.
Restoring production
The largest part of the budget, €372.225 million, is planned for restoring sheep and goat farming. The programme aims to double milk production over 12 years through improved breeding and farm management, rather than solely by increasing livestock numbers.
Another €134 million is allocated for cattle farming. The committee proposes creating a smaller but more productive herd, establishing 50 new farms, and increasing investment in beef production. €41 million will be allocated for biosecurity and fencing measures, while €63.7 million will go to scientific and technical support, including genetic testing.
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As an urgent step, a €30 million package has been proposed: the funds are to be used to create ten calf-fattening farms, ten farms for lambs and kids, and to support farmers relocating to safer locations or leaving the sector.
New requirements for farms
Researchers concluded that the dense location of farms contributed to the spread of the disease: 84 of the 121 affected farms were located in overcrowded livestock areas. The committee proposes introducing a minimum distance of 300 metres between independent farms. For relocation, it identified 360 potential plots of state land in agricultural areas and another 130 larger plots in existing zones.
Agriculture Minister Christos Senekis said that the new stage of the sector's development provides for mandatory vaccination of all cloven-hoofed animals. Farms that meet the new location and biosecurity requirements will be given priority in resuming operations. Some of them may restart production in November-December if there are no new cases of the disease.
Cyprus plans to seek a significant part of the funding through the next EU Common Agricultural Policy programme, which starts in 2028. President Nikos Christodoulides confirmed that national funds will also be needed, but the ratio of state and European funding has not yet been determined.
