MP Burhan Baran raises livestock crisis in Parliament through written question

Independent MP for İskeçe, Burhan Baran, has brought the severe impact of a sheep and goat pox outbreak in the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region to the attention of the Greek Parliament through a formal written question submitted to the Minister of Rural Development and Food.

In his submission, Baran warned that the livestock sector in the region is facing a critical risk of collapse due to the widespread consequences of the disease, which has heavily affected small ruminant farming.

The question highlights that more than 45,000 small livestock animals have been culled since the outbreak began. In particular, approximately 38,000 animals were destroyed in the Inhanlı municipality alone, leaving dozens of livestock farms in serious economic distress.

Baran noted that although compensation payments for culled animals have been made by the government, livestock farmers have been left without income for more than six months. He also emphasized that feed support payments have been insufficient to cover real operational needs, while uncertainty surrounding coupled support schemes has further deepened concerns among producers.

According to the submission, farmers affected by mandatory culling measures are unable to meet eligibility conditions for support programs through no fault of their own. Baran also referenced official data indicating that €22.7 million in compensation was paid on April 28, 2026, to farmers affected by sheep and goat pox as well as foot-and-mouth disease. However, he stressed that these payments do not address long-term income losses or the cost of rebuilding livestock populations.

Baran further warned that the lack of a clear and binding timeline for restocking livestock has increased uncertainty in the sector, arguing that the crisis threatens not only agricultural businesses but also the broader economic and social sustainability of Thrace.

In his parliamentary question, Baran requested clarification from Minister Margaritis Schinas on several key issues, including whether:

• Affected farmers will be allowed to retain eligibility for coupled support payments under force majeure provisions due to the outbreak
• The number of producers excluded from support schemes due to the disease has been recorded
• Additional measures will be introduced to compensate for prolonged income loss
• Extra financial support will be provided for feed and operational costs
• A timeline, funding structure, and conditions for livestock restocking will be announced

The initiative underscores growing concern among livestock producers in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace as the sector continues to face significant economic pressure from the ongoing animal health crisis.