PRETORIA – South Africa has declared a national disaster as a highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak sweeps across eight of the country’s nine provinces. The crisis, which has crippled the agricultural sector, is threatening the livelihoods of both large-scale commercial farmers and smallholders alike.
While the disease does not pose a threat to human health, it causes painful blisters and lameness in cattle, goats, and sheep, leading to plummeted yields and restricted international trade.
The Economic Toll on Dairy and Livestock
The KwaZulu-Natal province, the heart of South Africa’s dairy industry, has become the epicenter of the outbreak. Despite strict biosecurity measures and roadblocks, the virus continues to bypass defenses.
For veteran dairy farmer Carol Houston, the impact was immediate and costly. After her herd of 2,200 cattle became infected, she saw a staggering decline in production:
“My biggest fear is if the vaccine doesn’t arrive on time, all my cattle will be at risk and that would be the end of my business,” says Nompumelelo Ndlovu, a small-scale farmer who relies on the buying and selling of livestock.
Government Response and the Vaccine “Catastrophe”
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has announced a long-term, 10-year strategy to eradicate the disease. However, the immediate focus is on a mass vaccination drive for the nation’s 14 million cattle.
The plan faces significant hurdles:
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- Production Gap: South Africa lost its capacity to produce agricultural vaccines domestically over two decades ago due to a loss of technical expertise.
- Import Reliance: The government is currently forced to import vaccines. While one million doses are expected to arrive from Argentina this weekend, experts warn this is a fraction of what is needed.
- Logistical Delays: Farmers have expressed frustration over repeated delays, with many like Peter Griffin claiming the state “has failed” the industry by allowing the situation to reach this tipping point.
The designation of a “national disaster” allows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government to fast-track funding and vaccine acquisition. Industry leaders, such as Ntuthuko Shezi of Livestock Wealth, are calling for a “Covid-style” urgency to the rollout to prevent a total collapse of the rural economy.
