Potato producers from all over Cyprus held a rally in Liopetri last night. The producers requested state support to cover lost income due to the drought. They pointed out the problems they face and requested a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture to present their demands.
They also called for a radical change in the Compensation Framework in
cases of extreme weather conditions and stressed that the cost has become unsustainable.
Producers sounded the alarm for the future of potato farming and stressed that the problem is major since there is reduced production and at the same time reduced income due to the potato blight.
Potato producers' representative Andreas Karyos, in his statements on SIGMA's Ekpompi Protoselido, said that it was a very good gathering. "A suggestion was made by the agricultural organizations to hold meetings with other farmers who are not potato producers, we will proceed with a dialogue with the Ministry of Agriculture, if it does not bring the right results, we will proceed with a dynamic protest in September."
In statements made last night, the Secretary General of the Greek Potato Council, Christos Papapetrou, stated that discussions are taking place regarding the evolution of the Potato Trading Council on the basis of the Ministerial Decision, but they do not find all the proposals in agreement.
The Secretary General of the Greek National Coalition for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Panikos Hambas, stressed that the situation is tragic with the primary being terribly leading to disaster.
The Representative of the Pan-Agricultural Union, Kyriakos Kailas, pointed out that the problems are unbearable and this is where the state should come to the rescue and support the farmers.
