The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has committed to assisting dairy farmers in mitigating the effects of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the province.

By Amelia Genis, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

Movement permits have been issued in KwaZulu-Natal to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease along the N3 highway between this province and South Africa’s economic centre, Johannesburg.

In a press release, the department states the disease is already threatening cattle farmers, and dairy farmers are equally concerned about its potential impact on them now that cases in a vaccinated herd are being investigated.

KwaZulu-Natal makes a significant contribution to the dairy industry in South Africa. The province is home to 16 large dairy factories, and the fact that about 30% of all unprocessed milk is produced there makes the province one of the leading dairy producers in the country.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in KZN, Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, recently held a meeting with dairy farmers at the Orange Grove dairy in Dundee to seek solutions.

The department’s investigation into cases of FMD at three dairy farms in the uThukela and uMzinyathi districts, where symptoms were observed, prompted the industry to reflect on its way forward.

After the meeting, KaMadlopha-Mthethwa stated they were already involved in partnerships with key stakeholders in the dairy industry.

“In an effort to stop the spread of the disease, we have issued movement permits and are grateful to report that most farmers are cooperating. This reduced the impact of the disease.”

They have already vaccinated 700 000 cattle in the province since FMD broke out there in 2021.

Also read: WATCH | MEC leads FMD vaccination drive

Protect N3 route at all costs

Dave Durham, CEO of Orange Grove Dairy, says they requested the meeting with the provincial agriculture department to strengthen cooperation and find solutions to stop the spread of the disease to the main route, the N3 highway.

Durham stressed that the route connecting Durban harbour to the country’s economic heartbeat – Johannesburg – must be protected at all costs.

Declaring any part of the N3 a disaster management area will affect their operations and could lead to more expensive dairy products for consumers later this year.

The dairy industry’s message to the government is to keep the route a FMD-free zone by working together to find a KZN solution for the province.