Farmers protest mass culls of healthy livestock, reject compensation

Dozens of Cypriot farmers staged a peaceful protest outside the Presidential Palace on Saturday, March 21, voicing frustration over the government’s handling of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Farmers say mass culls of asymptomatic animals, inconsistent testing, and what they call overreach by veterinary authorities threaten the survival of livestock businesses across the island.

A black coffin was mounted atop the lead vehicle in a convoy that traveled from the new GSP stadium to the Presidential Palace under heavy police escort, symbolizing the perceived “death” of the livestock sector. A three-person delegation delivered a memorandum outlining their demands to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Director-General, Andreas Grigoriou.

Farmers, speaking on camera, called for an immediate halt to the culling of healthy animals and questioned the enforcement of EU directives, which they say are applied unevenly between government-controlled areas and the occupied territories. “We are farmers, not criminals,” said Christodoulos Christodoulou from Geri. “We ask the government, the minister, and the veterinary services to take this seriously. We are dying.”

Several farmers criticized authorities for entering farms without consent for sampling, delayed test results, and the abrupt decision to cull entire herds regardless of vaccination status. Younger farmers, including a 16-year-old from the Limassol district, raised questions about whether vaccinations are effective and whether asymptomatic animals need to be killed.

The protest temporarily closed the road in front of the Presidential Palace for about 90 minutes, with police barricades and rapid response units present. Despite strong emotions and pointed criticism, the event ended peacefully.

Farmers expressed fears that the culling could lead to food shortages during the upcoming Easter holiday. Many emphasized that their goal is not compensation, but protection of healthy herds and the long-term viability of livestock farming. “If an animal is sick, let it be handled,” said Sotiris, a farmer from Kythrea now in Kofinou. “But healthy animals should not be killed. This threatens the entire industry.”

Officials said they would meet with the farmers to discuss concerns, stressing that control measures and compensation programs are in place. Still, tensions remain high as farmers continue to demand more transparent communication, timely test results, and the suspension of mass culls for healthy animals.