The President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, reportedly requested a five-day period to examine the requests of the "Voice of Livestock Breeders" association, as the association's spokesperson, Stella Petrou, told CNA on Friday, while expressing the satisfaction of the association's members with the President's response, which was also decisive for the decision to suspend the protest they had planned at the Rizoelias junction.
The members of the association, according to Ms. Petrou, are now expecting an official public statement from the government regarding the intention to meet within the next few days. Until then, she noted, the livestock farmers are suspending the measures they decided on and will not meet to consider new measures.
As he explained, in a telephone conversation late on Thursday between the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, and the members of the association, just a few hours before the announced mobilization to block the Rizoelias junction, he requested five days to examine their requests and schedule a meeting with them.
As a sign of goodwill, as Ms. Petrou said, it was decided to suspend the mobilization, despite the fact that, even after the meeting of the President of the association, Neophytos Neophytos, with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, on Thursday afternoon, they were determined to proceed normally with their decision to block the Rizoelia junction.
"They finally counted on us," said Mr. Petrou, expressing satisfaction with this development. He also added that even the complaints made against some of the members of the association are not enough to stop their efforts, emphasizing that their goal is for the authorities to take their requests into account.
In the meetings expected to be scheduled between the government and the association, it is expected that the competent officers and executives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment will also participate, as reported by CNA.
Agricultural organizations demand immediate decision from the Cabinet on compensation amounts
------
The agricultural organizations participating in the advisory committee for the management of foot-and-mouth disease, which were announced on Thursday, are focusing on the need for immediate approval by the Council of Ministers of the amounts proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, in order to begin payments as soon as possible, the Secretary General of the Cyprus Farmers' Union (EKA), Panikos Hampas, told CNA.
An important parameter, according to him, is the designation of officers for each affected livestock farmer, so that they are facilitated in matters of bureaucratic procedures required in the context of the payment of compensation.
At the same time, Mr. Hambas also raised the issue of managing areas with overgrown vegetation due to the restriction of grazing, noting that with the increase in temperature in the coming period, there will be a risk of fires. As he mentioned, a request has already been made to allow grazing in uncontaminated areas, especially those located on the edges of forests.
He also noted that the Veterinary Services should start ordering now the vaccines that will be necessary from the moment the livestock begins to be replenished, because there is only one company in Germany that produces them, as he said.
Regarding the origin of the new livestock, Mr. Hampas argued that animals from uncontaminated areas in Cyprus should also be utilized, either from Nicosia, or from Limassol and Paphos, with priority given to breeds that produce milk suitable for halloumi.
In response to a question regarding rare breed fat-tailed animals, Mr. Hambas replied that the request to implement an exemption from killings remains, something that is also provided for by the EU for rare breeds, as he said, something for which a response from the authorities is expected.
Source: KYPE
