ACCORDING to the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu), the impact of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) Mass Vaccination Strategy presented by the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen hinges on swift, coordinated implementation.
“Whilst we note the national strategy and its acknowledgement of long-standing requests from the industry, the plan comes four years too late and does not address the real issues affecting our industry,” says Sandy La Marque, CEO of Kwanalu.
“Some important questions have been answered but the delay has already had a devastating economic impact,” says Angus Williamson, Kwanalu vice-president.
The lifting of the Disease Management Area (DMA) as an action to be taken in KwaZulu-Natal is “a crucial win for producers and a reflection of sustained advocacy by Kwanalu and livestock leaders” the provincial union said. It added that, after four years of constrained trade for farmers in the original DMA and a year for farmers in the expanded DMA, this is a lifeline for many farmers, though long overdue.
Key interventions set out in the Mass Vaccination Strategy include some action which Kwanalu has been lobbying for, such as a broadened vaccination campaign, zoning, improved surveillance and diagnostics and the introduction of digital movement permits.
However, Kwanalu has flagged serious concerns around vaccine availability, rollout logistics, communication and clarity on protocols. The Union has warned that unless these and other operational elements are addressed urgently and equitably, the strategy’s objectives will falter.
“These are things we’ve been asking for a long time. Lifting the DMA must come with a clear, imminent timeline. The vaccine has to get here, and we’ve got to be able to vaccinate. We cannot afford to sit with an indefinite promise – decisive action must now follow,” said PJ Hassard, president of Kwanalu.
“One of our biggest concerns has been the dairies. These are high-producing, stressed animals that need to maintain performance. Dairy herds must be prioritised in the vaccine rollout, followed by commercial, communal farmers and feedlots,” says Hassard.
The Union called for timeous communication and planning with organised agriculture as a key intervention for increased protocol compliance in curbing the spread of the disease.
“Farmers want to vaccinate and are in the dark. If we are informed on when all these things are going to happen and are provided with regular updates on how each intervention is moving forward, we can assist farmers and the ministry in achieving the strategy as set out. These updates should include answers on legislative amendments, when will the DMA be degazetted, when will vaccines arrive, what the process to get in line for vaccination etcetera will be,” says Williamson.
Heavy economic toll
Kwanalu also reiterated the heavy economic toll that the FMD outbreak has placed on the livestock sector in KZN – a toll that continues to increase while meaningful action is delayed.
“This has not just been a disease crisis; it has been a livelihood crisis. Our rural communities, commercial and emerging farmers have borne the brunt of this outbreak, with limited or no support,” says La Marque.
Kwanalu says it remains committed to working constructively with government, industry partners and all stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of a strategy – and to hold all parties accountable to its delivery.
“Now is the time to align behind one plan. We’ve got to stand together and make things happen. There’s no room for fragmented efforts anymore,” says Hassard.
“Kwanalu affirms its continued support for all producers in KwaZulu-Natal and will maintain pressure to ensure this strategy translates into tangible outcomes – on farms, in markets, and across the value chain,” says La Marque.
The KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union, Kwanalu, is a representative organisation and voice of the rural and agricultural sectors in the province. Its viewpoints are based on submissions from its members, and it is committed to a sustainable and profitable future for agriculture within KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa.
