Agri SA spreek kommer uit oor bek- en klouseer uitbrake | Grave concern over FMD outbreaks

English to follow:

22 November 2019

Agri SA het ernstige kommer oor die nasionale verbod op veeveilings as gevolg van die jongste voorvalle van bek- en klouseer (FMD) in Limpopo.

“Dit sal ‘n negatiewe ekonomiese impak op die landbousektor hê,” waarsku Omri van Zyl, uitvoerende direkteur van Agri SA. “Die nasionale verbod op veeveilings kom op ‘n tydstip wanneer boere reeds kontant-tekorte ervaar. Dit plaas verdere druk op die volhoubaarheid van boere.”

Daar is talle uitdagings oor die wyse waarop die Departement van Landbou, Grondhervorming en Landelike Ontwikkeling (DALRRD) die siekte in die beheergebied bestuur.

 “Ons verstaan die regering se besluit om ‘n verbod te plaas op veilings terwyl die omvang van die uitbraak bepaal word. Maar dit is bloot ‘n korttermyn oplossing om die impak van die siekte te versag,” sê Van Zyl. “Ons is bekommerd oor die potensiële verspreiding van die siekte na ander provinsies, wat katastrofies vir Suid-Afrika kan wees. Die opsporing van besmette diere is ‘n saak van dringendheid.”

Konsultasie en samewerking tussen alle rolspelers is noodsaaklik.

“Ons doen ‘n beroep op alle belanghebbendes in die openbare- sowel as privaatsektor om met die DALRDD en Veeartsenydienste saam te werk ten einde die krisis aan te spreek,” sê Dan Kriek, Agri SA President. “Die bestaande strukture binne georganiseerde landbou, soos die Nasionale Dieregesondheidsforum (NAHF) en lede van die Rooivleisindustrie-forum (RMIF), is in die beste posisie om die situasie te bestuur.”

Agri SA doen ‘n beroep op die DALRDD om voortdurend met hierdie strukture saam te werk en om voldoende hulpbronne toe te wys om die nodige ingrypings te implementeer. Die aankondiging van die ontplooiing van opgegradeerde sekuriteitsmaatreëls langs die Limpopo-grens word verwelkom.

Agri SA vra dat die verbod so spoedig moontlik opgehef word sodra die nodige sekuriteitsmaatreëls dit toelaat.

Lees die RPO se verklaring in dié verband hier:  https://bit.ly/3367I04

Navrae:

Dan Kriek

Agri SA President

(S) 082 944 0566

Omri van Zyl

Agri SA Uitvoerende Direkteur

(S) 082 417 5724

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Agri SA expresses its concern over the national banning of livestock auctions as a result of the latest cases of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Limpopo.

“This will have an adverse economic impact on the agricultural sector,” cautioned Omri van Zyl, Agri SA Executive Director. “The national banning of livestock auctions comes at a time when farmers are already cash-strapped and adds additional pressure on the sustainability of farmers.”

There have been numerous challenges in the way that the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) managed the disease in the controlled area.

“Whilst we understand the government’s decision to ban auctions to determine the extent of the crisis; the banning of auctions can only be a short term mitigant to contain the disease,” said Van Zyl. “We are concerned about the potential threat of the disease spreading to other provinces which could be catastrophic for South Africa. The tracing of infected animals needs to be done as a matter of urgency.”

Greater consultation and cooperation between all role-players are needed.  

“We call on all stakeholders, public and private, to cooperate with the DALRDD and veterinary services to mitigate the crisis. The existing structures within organised agriculture such as the National Animal Health Forum (NAHF) and the members of the Red Meat Industry Forum (RMIF) are best positioned to manage the situation,” said Dan Kriek, Agri SA President.

Agri SA calls on the DALRDD to continuously combine their efforts with these structures and to allocate sufficient resources to implement the required interventions. The announcement to deploy upgraded security measures on the Limpopo province’s borders is welcomed.

Agri SA calls for the ban to be lifted as soon as safety measures permit it.

Find the media release of the RPO here:  https://bit.ly/33cvBmP

Enquiries:

Dan Kriek

Agri SA President

(C) 082 944 0566

Omri van Zyl

Agri SA Executive Director

(C) 082 417 5724