Five Cypriot farming organisations have written jointly to President Nikos Christodoulides requesting an urgent meeting over the worsening foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, warning that the disease is continuing to spread to new districts despite measures taken to date.
The letter, sent on Wednesday, was signed by PEK, EKA, Panagrotikos, the New Farmers Movement and Euroagrotikos. The organisations said the outbreak has raised issues of political management that go beyond the remit of the veterinary services, and asked the President to schedule a meeting without delay. Livestock sector representatives — sheep and goat farmers, cattle farmers and pig farmers — will also attend.
The organisations expressed confidence that the President would intervene effectively “to put an end to this enormous problem, a torment afflicting livestock farmers and the entire island.” They also called on him to help create the conditions for farmers to return to normal productive activity and continue contributing to the economy.