Cyprus to give foot and mouth aid to farmers

Larnaca, Cyprus - Cyprus approved emergency financial aid on Wednesday to farmers whose livestock are to be slaughtered following an outbreak of foot and mouth on the Mediterranean island.

Farmers will receive 110 Cyprus pounds ($273) per animal lost during the cull, plus an extra 75 pounds $186 per animal for loss of income calculated over a six-month period.

Other forms of financial aid will also be given to farmers such as compensation for wasted animal feed and start-up costs to help affected farms.

"I personally pledged that the government would stand next to livestock breeders who are being severely tested ... It's a big and serious problem," President Tassos Papadopoulos told reporters.

"Unfortunately, tackling the problem necessitates tough measures, everyone understands the pain of farmers whose animals have to be killed," he added.