26 state-owned plots and livestock plots will be available from Thursday for the construction of a new licensed livestock unit, with a capacity of over 800 productive sheep and goats each. This announcement was made on Thursday by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, during a press conference in Nicosia, during which she also referred to subsidies of 600 thousand euros to new farmers and 400 thousand euros to existing farmers.
According to the competent Minister, their strategic goal is the creation of professional sheep and goat farming units, which will contribute to the increase in sheep and goat milk and the reduction of seasonality, noting that the utilization of the 26 units is estimated to lead to an increase of almost 21 thousand sheep and goats, accelerating the increase in the production of sheep and goat milk, since their disposal will be linked to professional employment and productivity.
Securing state land within 3 months
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It is noted that the details of the plots/plots are posted on the website of the Department of Agriculture as of today under the thematic section "Licensing framework for large sheep and goat farming units", with Ms. Panayiotou stating that the licensing and securing of state land will be completed within 3 months, while for securing a livestock plot in a livestock area the process will be completed in 15 days.
As he noted, in addition to this announcement, yesterday and after a long session with representatives of sheep and goat farmers, it was decided that head subsidies will not be given based on the number of animals, as has been the case until now, but on the basis of the productivity of the animals, which by 2025 exceed 200 liters and deliver their milk for the purposes of making PDO halloumi cheese.
"It is understood that in the coming years the minimum liters of productive animals will increase, so that there is further incentive. That is, and I say a random number, if this year it will be 250 liters, next year the subsidy will be 300 liters and so on. Along with this, they will also receive a subsidy for the first-born productive animals that each goat and sheep farmer must maintain in order to increase the production of goat and sheep milk," said Ms. Panayiotou.
He noted that "these will be accompanied by strict safety measures, linked to the commitment not to dispose of the animals that are subsidized for slaughter, adding that the details of this new method of subsidy will be decided together with the representatives of the sheep and goat farmers and the technocrats of the Department of Agriculture in the coming days."
He expressed his belief that today's announcement constitutes a "very important tool" for sheep and goat farmers, adding that "it is perhaps the most important of a series of actions we have taken, since it opens up prospects for further strengthening the sector, while also showing the clear and practical support of the state towards investments in the sector."
He called on all those involved to embrace this opportunity to strengthen sheep and goat farming in Cyprus and by extension "to strengthen PDO halloumi".
On the occasion of the announcement, for the concession of the 26 pieces which are associated with subsidies that can exceed 15 million euros, the competent Minister referred again to the main goals set by the Government, specifically the preservation of halloumi as the main agri-food export product and the safeguarding of the PDO that gives momentum to the product.
Referring to the reason, which aims to maintain halloumi as the main export food product, she said that it is because 91% of all halloumi production is exported.
Therefore, he added, "maintaining the product as the main export product ensures the sustainability of all involved sheep and goat farmers, cattle farmers and cheese makers," emphasizing that out of the total production of 45.000 tons, 41.000 tons are available for export.
"Of these 41.000 tons, approximately 39.000 tons are mixed halloumi. The quantitative data alone make it clear that what feeds our producers are the exports of mixed halloumi and therefore these must be preserved. Otherwise, the total annual production of halloumi is estimated to decrease by up to 40%. If this happens, it will call into question the viability of all those involved," said Ms. Panayiotou.
Only 16,64% availability for production of mixed goat and sheep halloumi
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Moreover, the Minister of Agriculture, citing the daily declarations recorded in the Department of Agriculture's software, reported that today there is only 16,64% availability for the production of mixed goat and sheep halloumi, explaining that this means that the current decree does not respond to the availability of goat and sheep milk, which is much less.
He recalled that from July 2024 they stated that in determining the quota in the decrees, among other things, the availability of goat and sheep milk will be taken into account, as presented in the software, noting that "in view of the risk of losing 40% of halloumi production, which will have a knock-on effect on the sustainability of all those involved (goat and sheep farmers, cattle farmers, cheesemakers), the decree for the period March 20 to July 31 will set the quota at 20% and the period August 1 - December 31, 2025 at 15%."
"The above regulation," he continued, "does not affect anyone involved in the production of halloumi since, regardless of the quota, there is a commitment by cheesemakers to receive all of the goat and sheep milk produced, regardless of the percentage in the decree. It is understood that any increase in the production of goat and sheep milk recorded in the software will lead to a new upward amendment to the decree."
Priority to newcomers under 40 years old
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Senior Agriculture Officer Makis Avraam said that the construction of the livestock unit will be subsidized through the investment intervention of the new Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan 2023-2027 of up to €600.000 for new farmers or €400.000 for existing farmers.
Referring to the state-owned plots, he said that 11 are located in the livestock zone of Athienou, another 11 in the livestock zone of Xylotympos and one each in the livestock zones of Ormidia, Kofinou, Choirokoitia and Kato Moni.
Furthermore, he stated that the details of the plots/plots are posted on the website of the Department of Agriculture as of today under the thematic section "Licensing framework for large goat and sheep farming units", while he added that the website will include contact numbers of the Officers handling the issues for immediate information.
He also said that for the allocation of these plots, priority will be given to newly entering livestock farmers under the age of 40, as well as to people who are trained in livestock farming, with the aim of creating modern units.
Source: KYPE
