Amid a mounting crisis caused by the resurgence of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), South Africa’s Department of Agriculture has launched a national indaba aimed at developing a long-term, coordinated response to the outbreak that continues to ravage the livestock industry.
The two-day summit, opening Monday, is being held at the Agricultural Research Council’s Veterinary Institute for Molecular Pathology (ARC-VIMP) campus in Roodeplaat, northeast of Pretoria. It brings together senior government officials, veterinary scientists, agricultural experts, and industry stakeholders from across the country.
The outbreak has affected several provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and most recently the Free State, prompting the enforcement of livestock movement restrictions and severely impacting South Africa’s red meat trade in international markets.
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and Deputy Minister Nokuzola Capa are leading the discussions.
“Having already inflicted significant damage to the multibillion-rand livestock sector, the disease continues to threaten South Africa’s broader economy,” the Department of Agriculture said in a statement. “Therefore, the Indaba presents a vital opportunity to unite expertise and resources to effectively eradicate this devastating disease.”
In collaboration with the Agricultural Research Council, the University of Pretoria, and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), the department says the Indaba aims to generate “a coordinated and comprehensive approach to controlling and ultimately eradicating foot and mouth disease.”
Key topics on the agenda include the enhancement of farm-level biosecurity, improved vaccination programmes, and stricter control over animal movements.
The department emphasised its commitment to “identifying and implementing sustainable solutions to FMD,” adding that the gathering marks “a crucial advancement in the ongoing efforts to combat the disease.”
“By cultivating strong partnerships between government entities, academic institutions and industry leaders, the Department of Agriculture is committed to developing precise and effective measures that will eradicate the disease and safeguard the long-term sustainability of South Africa’s agricultural sector,” the statement read.