Statements by General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL S.Stefanou after visiting livestock farms

 

14 October 2021, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

At a time when the iron is hot as they say, when prices are rising sharply and there is a shortage of grain/cereals, which is a very important source for livestock farms so they can operate, we have come right here on the spot to talk to the people so we can see the problems on the ground.

There are indeed problems and of course this situation affects both consumption, the prices of goods and the consumer.

In addition to the increase in the price of grain, which is a global phenomenon and affecting our own country too, there is also a shortage of grain and difficulty in supplying grain.

This is something which makes things difficult for livestock farmers and at the same time adds to their costs in order to be able to secure the necessary quantities as far as possible, so that they can continue their work in livestock units.

This situation hasn’t developed suddenly. Had the government not allowed or deliberately led the Cyprus Grains Commission to its closure, after first denigrating and defaming it, we would not have had this situation or even if we did, the Grains Commission could have acted on behalf of the state to find solutions so that the problem could be addressed.

For that reason today we are paying the price of the aftermath of the criminal policy pursued by the government to provoke the closure of the Grains Commission which was followed with the aim of serving specific very powerful interests in this case as well.

However, I must say that we are here not only to see for ourselves the problems that exist, but to discuss ways in which the government must find ways to assist farmers and at the same time help consumers to address the situation.

From what I have been briefed, the silos in Limassol are fully operational. The state must therefore ensure that this very important infrastructure that exists for storing grain is used to create a reserve – by law strategic reserves must exist. The government has not ensured the existence of silos so that we can address this problem right now. At the same time, farmers should be helped in this way so they can secure the quantities they need with all the necessary actions that need to be done.

It is therefore the government’s responsibility to address the problem, take the necessary and approve quick decisions, but to also utilize the silos, which are in full working condition so that we can confront the situation.

For example, the livestock farmer here told us that in the last few days he was looking for quantities of grain and found a certain quantity that is not enough. He will be forced to hire a truck that he will pay for and make the trips that he has to make. Soon he will have to make more trips because he will have to find additional quantities and keep paying on top of the cost of his production. Inevitably the costs will be passed down the entire chain that will eventually end up as a product on the market and to the consumer who will pay for it.

Since the government bears a grave responsibility for the situation that has developed, it must also take the initiative to tackle this situation as soon as possible.

At the same time as the government should act to ensure that we secure the necessary stocks and quantities in the way we have said, the government also has a duty to protect both farmers and consumers from the phenomena of profiteering.

Whenever we have emergency situations, normally some of the perpetrators operate in such a way as to seek profiteering and act to the detriment of either producers or consumers, or both at the same time. I have been briefed that such phenomena have occurred. Phenomena of profiteering and exerting pressure on producers to lower prices are being observed so that various intermediaries can see their profit margin rise.

Furthermore, we are already observing price hikes in certain sectors. For that reason, the government must activate the mechanisms that the state has, quickly and effectively, to give it emphasis so that we can protect people from profiteering.

Everything we have said of course concerns this emergency period. At the same time, we need to see what we are doing in the medium and long term so that we don’t have a repetition of what we are going through today.