By The Free State continues to record new cases of Food Mouth Diseases (FMD) reaching frustrating levels for both the farming community and the economy. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the province recently announced eight new cases of FMD.
According to the department, the new cases have now brought the FMD cases in the Free State to a total of 127. The outbreak has spread across the province affecting 13 identified districts and eight local municipalities.
The department said the new eight cases have been identified in Frankfort (1), Parys (1), Viljoenskroon (2), Deneysville/Sasolburg (2), Tweeling (1) and Hlohlolwane (1).
The Department has since affirmed that it is prioritising the vaccination of livestock on affected farms to reduce the viral load and limit further circulation of the virus.
Reacting to the news, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Free State called on the department to pull its socks up in dealing with the FMD outbreak. The DA says the outbreak is having a devastating impact on the farming community and the economy of the province.
“While the MEC for Finance in the Free State announced additional funding of R45 million to the Department of ARDEA, this Department has the highest underspend in the province, with 34% of its current budget spent against a target of 50%. The adjustment budget makes provision for R45 million in roll-overs and additional funding, of which R15 million will be utilised to combat foot and mouth disease.
The DA in the Free State welcomes the announcement by National Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen’s intention to vaccinate the national herd and establish a new mid-scale vaccine production facility. However, the success of this programme will depend on the capacity of the provincial veterinary services. The DA has previously called for the Free State Department of ARDEA to strengthen the province’s veterinary services,” said the DA Leader in the Free State and Spokesperson on Agriculture in Legislature, Dr Roy Jankielsohn.
Jankielsohn further expressed concern over the performance and progress made in combating FMD at local level compared to national. He said there remains a concern that national and provincial initiatives to combat the spread of animal diseases are not duplicated at a local government level, where commonage cattle roam freely inside and outside towns with little policing or control over their movement to markets.
“Concerns have also been raised regarding the detection of Rift Valley in the neighbouring province of the Northern Cape. This disease can cause illness in humans. Vaccines must be made available for vaccination of livestock as required in the Free State, since the current wet season is conducive to this disease.
The DA in the Free State continues to support initiatives to assist our agricultural sector, which contributes 6% to our provincial economy and a disproportionate amount of employment opportunities. Our agricultural sector throughout the value chain, who ensure our food security, is a national asset that must be supported and protected,” said Jankielsohn.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has imposed movement restrictions on all farms within 10 kilometres radius of the infected farms. The department said infected farms remain under quarantine and all farms within the radius have been informed and placed under precautionary quarantine until surveillance is completed to determine any further spread of the disease.
