Salubindza farmers receive assistance against foot-and-mouth
A very strong 600km elephant-proof fence was erected to help prevent any further contact between the nearby villages' cattle and any animals from the Kruger National Park.
Some efforts to curb any potential outbreak and spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) along the red zone near the Kruger National Park (KNP), were implemented on Friday March 31.
The Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs said a very strong 600km elephant-proof fence was erected to help prevent any further contact between the cattle in the nearby villages and any animals from the KNP.
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“Weekly cattle dipping and frequent vaccinations are strictly conducted on the cattle due to their proximity to the park. FMD is a severe and highly infectious disease that leads to production losses for farmers and impact negatively on the economy.”
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This came up during Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development’s visit to a dipping tank in Salubindza near Hazyview, and they engaged with local livestock farmers on their challenges.
“Farmers mentioned stock theft and the lack of market access due to the red zone, including costs involved when they want to access the feedlot or abattoirs, among others. The committee members were on an oversight visit to some agriculture projects to assess the level of service to farmers. They also went on to see the new fence bordering the KNP.”
