Greece to pay €4.2 million to livestock farmers
Greece will pay €4.2 million in compensation to livestock farmers whose animals were culled as part of efforts to contain outbreaks of sheep and goat pox and foot-and-mouth disease.
The Agriculture Ministry said the latest round of payments will compensate 176 farmers for the loss of more than 75,000 animals and will be made over the next two days.
The largest share, €2.84 million, will be paid to 73 farmers on the island of Lesvos for 17,285 animals culled following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, which authorities say has since been brought under control.
A further €1.38 million will be distributed to 103 farmers in other parts of Greece who lost 58,031 sheep and goats as part of the government's campaign to contain the spread of sheep and goat pox.
According to the latest official figures released in May, nearly 490,000 sheep and goats have been culled since the pox outbreak began in August 2024, posing a major challenge for Greece's livestock sector and its feta cheese industry.
The latest compensation package is the fourth approved since the outbreaks began.
The government has continued its policy of culling entire herds when even a single case of either disease is detected, despite calls from farmers and some veterinary experts for a broader vaccination campaign.
