Livestock producers to continue negotiations
LIVESTOCK producers said they would continue their struggle “at the negotiating table” after a week-long demonstration was brought to an end.
The producers had caused days of disruption in central Lefkoşa where they had blocked roads outside Parliament with tractors and other farm vehicles. They were demanding greater financial support from the government.
Tensions increased last Friday when police at the Ercan airport junction prevented members of the Cyprus Turkish Farmers’ Union entering Lefkoşa on 40 tractors and combine harvesters to join the protest.
They also attempted to tow away farm vehicles parked on the capital’s streets, leading to the arrests of two protesters, who were later released.
That sparked another meeting between livestock farmers’ representatives and Agriculture and Natural Resources Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu regarding their demands.
As a result of the agreement reached, the producers ended their vehicle protest
and decided to continue talks with the Agriculture Ministry.
After a two-hour meeting, Mr Çavuşoğlu and Cyprus Turkish Livestock Producers and Breeders head Mustafa Naimoğulları announced that an agreement had been reached to end the protest and issued a joint statement.
Mr Çavuşoğlu stated that the two had agreed on “six of the seven” demands put forward by producers but that they could not agree on milk and animal feed prices.
The minister said that they agreed to solve the problems “by June 30 at the latest” through a committee.
“We have agreed to work on rebuilding the system,” he said.
“I am hoping for a good result. My only goal is to improve the agriculture and livestock sector.”
Mr Naimoğulları said that he hoped Mr Çavuşoğlu will solve the breeders’ problems soon, before warning: “We will take to the streets again if no solution is found during this period, this is not off the table.”
He apologised to members of the public for any inconvenience caused by the protest.