Livestock farmers from the group 'Voice of the Farmers' are giving dialogue one final chance and will meet on Monday with the Minister of Agriculture and Agricultural Development, Dr Maria Panayiotou. If the outcome of the meeting is negative, they say they will organise protest actions.
Speaking after a meeting held on Wednesday evening in Choirokoitia, the group’s president, Neophytos Neophytou, said that not only members of the organisation attended but also other livestock farmers.
“The turnout was strong, and the Voice of the Farmers has grown very rapidly and continues to grow even further, because tonight we also had announcements from groups of more than 40 livestock farmers who belong to agricultural organisations and who will officially leave tomorrow and join the Voice of the Farmers,” he said.
He added that many have labelled them populists, saying: “We accept being called populists when we speak the truth. We accept being called populists when we claim what is fair and fight for our cause, which we have been doing day and night for many years.”
He said that agreements were made behind closed doors, something they had been warning about for days regarding halloumi and the change in milk quotas. “Some denied it, some refused to comment, and some simply did not appear anywhere to say anything. We were there, we supported our position, and we were proven right, although we wish we had not been,” he said.
Mr Neophytou explained that the choices at yesterday’s meeting were two: either to proceed with the next scheduled meeting proposed by the minister for Monday, with their agenda to be discussed and decisions taken, or to move on to protest action.
“Once again, unanimously, all members showed that we are not closing doors. We are keeping them open and want to give the last chance, the final meeting they requested, for decisions to be taken. That is why we are going to the meeting on Monday. The outcome will be announced immediately afterwards so that the public is informed and we can state our next move,” he said.
Asked what would happen if Monday’s meeting also fails, Mr Neophytou said that the general assembly voted in favour of holding the meeting and not proceeding with protest action.
“If we have negative results and not positive ones, then we will proceed to protest,” he said.
In response to a journalist’s remark that parliamentary elections will take place on 24 May, he said: “That is not something that concerns us. What concerns us is saving livestock farming in Cyprus.”
Source: CNA
