Cabinet approves up to €50,000 interim payouts to FMD-hit farmers

The cabinet approved on Thursday an advance payment of up to €50,000 per livestock unit for farmers affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, as authorities seek to contain the spread of the virus and cushion the financial impact on the livestock sector.

Agriculture minister Maria Panayiotou said the payment would be made as an initial instalment to cover loss of income, with the amount varying according to the number of animals in each affected unit.

She described the...