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Livestock Farmers Protest: Claiming Imminent Destruction of Cypriot Livestock Farming

Published March 21, 2026, 21:05
Livestock Farmers Protest: Claiming Imminent Destruction of Cypriot Livestock Farming

Livestock farmers in Cyprus staged a dynamic protest, gathering outside GSP stadium and proceeding to the Presidential Palace, protesting against policies they believe are leading to the destruction of livestock farming. The protesters accuse authorities of irresponsibility and introducing diseases affecting their herds, while expressing strong dissatisfaction with the European regulation, which they claim is applied with double standards. They also report practices of sampling controls, citing incidents of police violence and illegal entry into private farms. The livestock farmers protest the mass culling of animals and demand immediate substantial solutions to prevent the extinction of livestock farming in Cyprus. They express fears about the loss of genetic diversity of their animals and the economic impact of the destruction of livestock farming. They also report division within the sector, with accusations against agricultural organizations of compromising with policies that harm them. A memorandum of eight points was submitted to the Presidential Palace, while the Director-General of the Ministry of Agriculture invited the livestock farmers to a meeting, without reaching an agreement. The livestock farmers warn of an escalation of measures, expressing their disappointment and their belief that the authorities do not understand them. The Ministry of Agriculture denies allegations of ordering the breaking of gates in enclosures, stating that it only requests the application of the law. However, the livestock farmers insist on their complaints, describing specific incidents of police violence and arbitrary entry into private properties.