Farmers are calling on the public for support as they prepare to gather outside the Presidential Palace on Friday at 11:00 to protest the handling of the foot‑and‑mouth disease outbreak, said Stella Petrou, spokesperson for 'Voice of the Farmers.'
Petrou stated that demonstrators will first gather at 10:00 at the GSP stadium in Nicosia, before marching to the Presidential Palace.
“We expect that the President will agree to meet us at the Presidential Palace to discuss the issue,” she said.
At the same time, she appealed to the public “to support this struggle for all of us. Everyone is welcome to help, because it appears that the situation has escalated and affects us all.”
Petrou outlined the farmers’ demands, which include halting the culling of animals, stopping further sampling measures and ensuring proper compensation for affected farmers.
Responding to a question about compensation, she said the figures presented by the relevant authorities are “non‑existent,” adding that services must clarify how farmers will be compensated for animals lost either through theft or death. She claimed there are indications such losses may not be covered.
“We want a clearer answer. Fine farmers for missing animals if necessary, but compensate them for the animals that were culled,” she added.
“It seems this situation is leading nowhere. It appears that it has gone beyond the control of the authorities. The virus has reached Pachna and Palaichori,” she concluded.
Source: CNA
