FOOT AND MOUTH - PACKAGE OF MILLIONS FOR COMPENSATION AND REACTIVATION OF AFFECTED LIVESTOCK FARMERS - Filenews 13/5 by Angelos Nikolaou
The Council of Ministers approved a comprehensive and enhanced package of measures, amounting to €35.6 million. to deal with the serious crisis that broke out in February 2026 with the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
As stated by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panagiotou, the government stands by the affected livestock farmers with five specific measures that were formulated in cooperation with the agricultural organizations and representatives of livestock breeders (cattle breeders, pig breeders and sheep and goat breeders) that they themselves indicated and participate in the Special Advisory Committee.
Due to the rapid increase in cases that amounted to 110 units compared to the 39 initially estimated as well as the infection of pig farms, the total amount for the payment of financial compensation for the animals killed skyrocketed to €13,900,000. This amount shows an increase of €6,500,000 compared to the previous decision in March.
Detailed amounts of compensation per animal
The compensations were based on an updated methodology of the Agricultural Research Institute and, according to the Minister, are significantly higher than the average prices of the European Union, while they will be given without the presentation of documents:
Sheep and goats: From €47 to €420 per animal.
Cattle: From €150 to €2,500 per animal.
Pigs: From €35 to €5,000 per animal.
The five support measures for reactivation
The government plan is not limited to the simple replenishment of the lost livestock, but gives strong incentives for the next day:
1. Immediate payment of the financial compensation for the slaughtered animals.
2. Coverage of loss of income for at least 12 months to those who are reactivated, with the total fund estimated at €8,600,000. The loss will be calculated based on an individualized assessment of the actual supporting documents of each unit.
3. Livestock reconstitution: Creation of a special State Aid Scheme for the acquisition of animals of high genetic value, under the supervision of a scientific committee headed by Mr. Malas. If the purchase cost exceeds the compensation, the state will subsidize the difference.
4. Coverage of feeding costs: Financing of feed for the transitional period when new animals will not yet contribute to the farmer's income.
5. State Advisor: Appointment of a state officer for each affected livestock farmer, in order to provide personalized guidance and support.
To cover the first livelihood needs, the payment of de minimis aid of up to €50,000 for sheep, goat and cow farmers was approved, which will now be granted regardless of the number of animals they owned, if the main compensation is delayed. For pig farmers, an advance payment of €120 per sow was approved, with a maximum of €50,000 per unit. All advance payments will then be offset against the final amount of compensation.
The Minister's statement
The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panagiotou, announced €35,6 million in compensation to livestock farmers affected by foot-and-mouth disease, on Wednesday.
In her statements after the meeting of the Council of Ministers, Mrs. Panagiotou announced the five support measures which, as she mentioned, were formed in the framework of the Special Advisory Committee in which representatives of agricultural organizations and livestock breeders participate.
"On the basis of their suggestions and on the basis of the methodology developed by the Agricultural Research Institute and the support provided by the Department of Agriculture and the veterinary services, the Council of Ministers approved the five measures that concern the support of our livestock breeders," said the Minister.
The first, she said, is the immediate payment of livestock compensation to livestock farmers whose animals have been killed. For sheep and goats, the compensation is from €47 to €420 for each animal, for cattle the compensation is from €150 to €2,500 per animal and for pigs from €35 to €5,000 per animal. She reminded that these compensations "are much higher than the average prices given in the European Union and are compensations that livestock farmers will receive without providing any documents".
The second measure concerns those livestock farmers who wish to reactivate, said the Minister, and concerns the support of loss of income for at least 12 months.
The third concerns the reconstitution of the livestock with animals of high genetic value on the basis of a state aid plan, which will be formulated with criteria by the Scientific Committee for the reconstruction of livestock farming, which is headed by Stavros Malas.
The fourth measure, the Minister said, is to cover the cost of feeding the animals that will be acquired with the reconstruction plan for the period when the animals will not contribute to the farmer's income.
The fifth concerns the appointment of a state official for each livestock farmer who will provide him with whatever support he needs.
The Minister underlined that these measures were formulated together with the agricultural organizations and together with the representatives of the livestock breeders.
Statement by the President of the Republic
There is only one Government, the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, said today, noting that the livestock farmers have already met with the Minister and officials of the Ministry of Agriculture.
In his statements to journalists, arriving at the General Assembly of the Cyprus Chamber of Shipping, in Limassol, and in a journalist's remark that the livestock farmers are disappointed because he has not met them, the President of the Republic said that "the livestock farmers met yesterday with the Minister of Agriculture, with officials of the Ministry of Agriculture. There is only one Government.
I want to tell you that today in the Council of Ministers we decided on support for livestock breeders, any support that exceeds by 150 to 200 percent what is happening at the European level. And I am really glad because we can respond to these internal as well as external challenges, because our responsible economic policy allows us precisely to deal with such challenges, internal and external, but also to invest in specific sectors that are of particular importance, such as Health, Education, housing, the welfare state."
