ANGRY GOAT and sheep farmers dumped 25 tons of milk on Konia roundabout in Paphos yesterday to protest that one third of their production is not being absorbed by the dairy industry.
According to police, the peaceful demonstration involved 21 farmers, and national guardsmen were called in to help the fire brigade clean up the spilt milk.
The number of demonstrators was much higher according to farmers’ representative Evagoras Chrysanthou, who told the Sunday Mail yesterday that the demonstration was made up of the 65 goat’s and sheep’s milk producers who supply milk processors directly with raw milk every day of the year, for the production of halloumi, other cheese and yoghurt.
Part of the problem is the seasonal cycle. Chrysanthou said: “As we move into spring, we are producing more milk. Sixteen tons per day are being absorbed by the milk processors, but another eight tons per day can’t be absorbed.”
But for Chrysanthou, the real issue is that large quantities of cow’s milk are being diverted into the production of halloumi in contravention of Commerce Ministry regulations.
“A lot of cheese-makers will typically use six tons of cow’s milk and add just 300 litres of goat’s and sheep’s milk, but still call it halloumi”, he said.
A meeting took place in Paphos two weeks ago, attended by Agriculture Minister Michalis Polinikis, the Director of the Veterinary Services and senior dairy industry representatives, but proved inconclusive. Chrysanthou said that Polinikis told the meeting that he could not do anything as the situation stood, but would consult with the Commerce and Finance Ministries.
In another twist, before the farmers dumped their milk during yesterday’s demonstration, representatives of the Veterinary Services insisted on taking samples, saying that they had received reports that it was tainted due to scrapie.
Chrysanthou said: “We’ll wait until Monday or Tuesday, when the authorities said they would get back to us after consulting with the milk processors. This time our demonstration was peaceful, but if we need to, next time instead of pouring 25 tons in a field in Paphos, we’ll take our tankers up to the Agriculture Ministry in Nicosia.”
