Global Courant
Cypriot farmers have driven dozens of tractors through the streets of the capital Nicosia in protest against restrictions on pesticides demanded by the EU.
“This regulation being promoted is disastrous,” says a farmer outside the EU headquarters in Nokozia, who like his colleagues in other European countries rejects the unexplained production restrictions demanded by the Union.
“We here in Cyprus have a part of the country under Turkish occupation and we accept products with pesticides banned in the EU. Instead of banning pesticides, they should act against this issue”, said local farmer Polys Kodjapashis, to AFP.
Protester Andreas Symeou supported his colleague by rejecting the reduction of pesticides as a solution.
“We have gathered to protest against the proposal to ban pesticides. We support sustainable development but they must find solutions to protect our crops as spraying is essential for wheat”.
“This measure will reduce our production and raise crop prices more,” Symeou said.
Farmers with tractors demonstrated today with their tractors on the main streets of the capital in front of government and European buildings.
They say that the policies proposed by the EU lead to the closure of many farms and the accumulation of fuel or summer fires.
The EU calls for a ban on fertilizers and pesticides as it exceeds “allowable levels of nitrogen in soil and water”.
Global Courantl
