Approximately 18,000 goats and sheep have been culled in Greece this summer due to a strain of animal plague known as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), according to Greece's Minister of Rural Development and Food, Kostas Tsiaras.
The alarming figure represents a significant loss for the agricultural sector but pales in comparison to the devastating impact of the disease in Romania, where an estimated 230,000 animals have been destroyed.
Mr. Tsiaras explained that the relatively lower number of culled animals in Greece is a testament to the swift and decisive actions taken by authorities to contain the outbreak.
Greece implemented strict adherence to EU protocols outlined in Directive 687 of 2020, including a nationwide ban on transporting sheep and goats for two weeks. This proactive approach, combined with rigorous tracking and monitoring, has been instrumental in mitigating the spread of the disease.
While the PPR outbreak has posed a significant challenge for Greece's agricultural sector, Mr. Tsiaras also addressed another pressing issue: the ongoing water shortages affecting farmers and rural communities. He acknowledged that these shortages are hindering agricultural production and stressed that there are no easy solutions.
Still, he pointed to the recent establishment of a water resources management mechanism in Thessaly, following the catastrophic floods last September, as a step in the right direction.
Tsiaras further announced plans to develop a similar water resources management mechanism for Crete, aiming to address the specific challenges faced by this region.
The initiatives demonstrate the government's commitment to supporting the agricultural sector and ensuring its resilience in the face of both disease outbreaks and environmental challenges, officials say.