The north’s ‘agriculture ministry’ on Tuesday announced its intention to import “high value sheep” from abroad with the aim of being able to bolster halloumi production in the face of increasing demand.

The ‘ministry’ said that the north saw a 10 per cent increase in its sheep and goat population in 2024, but that despite this increase, “the expected level of milk yield could not be reached”.

Asked by the Cyprus Mail whether the imported sheep would be used to produce halloumi which will be exported to the European Union as part of Cyprus’ protected designation of origin (PDO) status, the ‘ministry’ said that as per the regulations, the sheep themselves would not be able to be used for this purpose, but their offspring will.

In effect, from the first generation born in Cyprus, the imported sheep’s descendants’ milk will be usable in PDO halloumi.

The ‘ministry’ also said that those who wish to import the sheep must be Turkish Cypriots, must have a business registered with the north’s veterinary department, and must already own at least 50 sheep or goats.

Each successful applicant will have the right to import between 20 and 300 animals.

The financing required to pay for the sheep will be provided through interest-supported loans by the north’s central bank, which will work in the same way as those provided by banks in the north to allow farmers to purchase other products and raw materials, with part of the interest being paid for by the ‘government’.