Potato farmers limber up for blockade

POTATO farmers yesterday stepped up their mobilisation of tractors in preparation for a large-scale blockade if the government fails to meet their demands for early retirement pay-offs.

Larnaca and Famagusta district potato farmers assembled in Ormidia village yesterday ahead of talks today between agricultural organisations and parliamentary parties to discuss their demands before they take further measures. Nevertheless, they continued to threaten decisive action if those demands are not satisfied.

Afraid they will not be able to compete with European potato growers when the island joins the European Union on May 1, local producers have suggested an early retirement compensation scheme for farmers wanting to pull out of the profession. The government has said these demands are unfeasible and would be rejected by the EU.

But potato farmers are not satisfied with the existing plan, which will be implemented on March 29. Highlighting this frustration, they said President Tassos Papadopoulos would have to wait until March 31 order to see whether the current talks on the Cyprus problem were satisfactory, but for them, March 29 would be the day of judgement.

Potato farmers’ representatives told reporters that during contacts with Agriculture Minister Timis Efthymiou, they had submitted 12 applications for early retirement compensation. But the answer they had received was that their demands could not be satisfied as they would violate the European acquis.

Speaking from Athienou yesterday, the Agriculture Minister said he was open to every discussion with the potato farmers but not under the pressure of strike action.

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