Farmers protesting the mass culling of animals due to foot-and-mouth disease say they will formally request a meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides, according to their representative Stella Petrou.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Petrou said the group will send a letter asking the President to meet them and discuss their primary demand, which is to halt the ongoing culling of livestock.
Protest tactics and public impact
Petrou said protesters have since decided to reopen the Rizoelia roundabout, where a demonstration had taken place, out of consideration for the public.
“It is not the fault of people who need to go to work,” she said, adding that although many farmers risk losing their livelihoods, they did not want to continue disrupting daily life.
“Most of us will be left unemployed, but it does not matter. People should be able to go to work,” she added.
Warning of escalation
Despite the move, she warned that tensions could escalate if their request for a meeting is not granted.
Petrou said other organised groups and associations, including those outside the farming sector, are prepared to support further action, potentially involving heavy vehicles.
“We have tolerated enough. That is it,” she said, adding that stricter measures are under consideration.
She clarified that not all farmers share the same stance, but insisted the issue will eventually affect everyone.
“Not everyone understands. Some think it will not reach them, but it will affect everyone. This does not stop anywhere,” she said.
Wider economic impact
Petrou also highlighted the broader impact on related sectors, including feed suppliers and transport operators, warning that the economic consequences extend beyond livestock farmers.
She said warehouses remain full as producers struggle with uncertainty, noting that around 22% of livestock has already been culled, with more expected.
Talks with ministry and official response
Farmers across Cyprus staged protests on Thursday, blocking the Rizoelia roundabout and Larnaca port in response to the culling measures.
A three-member delegation of farmers met Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou and ministry officials in Nicosia for around four hours on Thursday, but no agreement was reached.
In a written statement, the ministry’s Director General Andreas Gregoriou urged protesters to end their demonstrations, warning that dialogue cannot continue under such conditions. He also stressed that suspending the culling would constitute a deviation from EU regulations and is not an option.
Source: CNA