Govt monitors Foot and Mouth outbreak, gives drought aid

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) remains focused on manageming and containing the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak that was detected in the Vhembe district of Limpopo earlier this year and is also monitoring distribution of an amount of R566,5 million that was allocated for drought relief countrywide.
This is according to a media release published after a recent meeting between Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Senzeni Zokwana and stakeholders in Pretoria. The meeting was also attended by MEC for Agriculture, Basikopo Makamu.
Foot and Mouth Disease management
Providing an update on the situation with FMD, the Minister said that, following the sharing of update reports with trade partners, trade restrictions on the export of processed products have been relaxed by many trade partners. “Trade in safe commodities to direct neighbouring countries have largely been accepted and, where necessary, negotiation of new health certificates is underway. There has also been good progress with negotiations to re-open markets for deboned matured beef, processed dairy products and processed hides and skins to the other African countries, the Middle East and the Far East,” the Minister reportedly said.
“DAFF notified trade partners and provided an update on the FMD outbreak in South Africa. A request was also made to trade partners to consider continuation of trade in safe products. Guarantees were provided for products which do not pose a risk of transmitting the disease, such as heat treated meat and dairy products, deboned and matured beef, scoured wool, salted hides and skins, livestock embryos and pork products from known FMD free pig compartments,” the Minister added.
The Minister said culling of affected or in-contact animals in the area is not advocated and confirmed that vaccination of cattle commenced on 14 January, starting with cattle in the affected villages, as well as cattle in the 20 km radius around the affected villages. “To date, the total number of cattle vaccinated is over 10 000. Vaccinated cattle are marked to identify them as vaccinated,” the Minister said.
Drought situation in the country
Zokwana said that a recently released report from a committee convened through the National Agricultural Marketing Council made compelling recommendations which will provide a sustainable pathway for dealing with drought. There were four recommendations which addressed the smart drought implementation management plan. They relate to setting up of a disaster fund, establishing Public-Private Partnerships, setting up an agricultural insurance and creating an early warning system to promote disaster risk reduction.
“Some of these recommendations require engagements with the Ministers of Finance and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. To this effect I will be working with these Ministers to ensure that our teams and the industry conclude on the practical implementation steps which will give effect to the recommendations. The Director-General will lead to ensure that the smart drought implementation plan is implemented,” the Minister said.
Zokwana also stated that in response to the persistent drought situation, a provisional allocation was set aside by the Minister of Finance for several purposes, including drought relief and to augment public infrastructure investment. “Following this announcement, the agricultural sector applied for drought funding and received a total allocation of R566,5 million from National Treasury that is currently being implemented in various provinces, mostly targeting those farmers unable to cope using their own means,” the Minister said. The exact allocation to Limpopo was not available at time of going to print.

Story: BARRY VILJOEN
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