Cyprus: Potato farmers block highway
Famagusta police diverted traffic on the Ayia Napa-Larnaca highway between 11am and 1pm, the duration of the warning strike over the movement of potatoes from the north under the EU’s Green Line Regulation.
“Products sprayed with forbidden pesticides are legally allowed [in the market],” said the head of the Cyprus potato growers’ coordinating committee, Nicos Vasilas.
He said the Turkish Cypriot produce should be clearly marked in supermarkets so people can know their origins.
The Cyprus Consumer Association concurred in an announcement issued yesterday adding that authorities needed to be harsher on the illegal trade from non-designated crossing points.
The Green Line Regulation came into force in 2004 to facilitate trade between the two sides. Goods coming south are checked by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce and Industry to ensure they meet food safety requirements.
Agriculture minister Sophoclis Aletraris said earlier this week that they take sample tests on products, and that experts sent by the European Commission work together with the Turkish Cypriot Chamber on public health issues.
The head of the potato growers Andreas Karyos, nonetheless questioned the Turkish Cypriot standards.
He said Greek Cypriot farmers faced “unfair competition” from their Turkish Cypriot counterparts and could not sell their products at a profit because whenever potato prices rose “some people will remember there exist potatoes in the north and they bring them”.
“Greek Cypriot farmers must be protected,” Karyos said.
“The government cannot stop the crossing of goods because a team of farmers whose interests are hurt asks for it,” Aletraris said on Tuesday. He said potato prices had fallen to €0.50 kilo through competition.
Potato growers are part of the Farming Insurance Organisation (OGA), which compensates them in the event of crop failure of damage due to hail, frost or flood.
Although potato growers said in March they wanted to opt out of the scheme because it was too expensive, they still subscribe to OGA – a semi-state organisation that has paid potato growers almost double what they have paid in.
Since 1989, potato growers have received almost €47 million and have paid €25 million in insurance payments.
Source: www.cyprus-mail.com