FARMERS’ organisations protested yesterday against the purchase of types of imported goods Cyprus already produces, saying people should opt to buy local.
“During these troubled times it is a patriotic act to support Cypriot goods,” General-secretary of Farmers’ union EKA, Panicos Chambas said.
They said while importers were being paid in cash by supermarkets, Cypriot suppliers, who are owed millions, have been left unpaid. They said this was blow to the farming sector.
“We are appealing on the public, when they go shopping, to buy Cypriot goods,” Chambas said.
The farmers urged the public to ‘turn their backs’ on foreign produce and not to be fooled by low prices set by middle-men who were working against their fellow countrymen and against Cypriot goods.
In a show of good faith, farmers gathered produce and handed them over to the Famagusta Metropolis to help the church continue its charitable work.
General-secretary of farmers’ union Panagrotikou, Nectarios Karyos said the unions had written a letter to the relevant ministries, with suggestions on how to deal with the problems faced by the farming industry.
“We are waiting for them to pass through a bill which will prioritise Cyprus produce,” he added. Karyos believes it is unethical and damaging to the farming industry and the economy in general that suppliers are using cash they have received from local supermarkets and grocery stores to purchase imported goods.
“I’d like to call on consumers to buy Cypriot produce as foreign produce is not natural, and can be unhealthy,” a protesting farmer said.
“We ask the government to support us as we have not been paid for 3-4 months now and without their support we will not be able to survive,” he added.
The groups later travelled to the villages of Ormidia and Avgorou to assess the damage done to crops by the hailstorm on Tuesday night.