Part of South Africa’s plans to manage foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the future is to start producing foot-and-mouth disease vaccines by the first quarter of next year, says John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture.
By Alani Janeke, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
“I wake up in the morning and I’m worried about foot-and-mouth disease and what we need to do and I still think about it when I go to sleep at night… That’s why we’re hosting this session, to inform the country about what we’re doing.”
During a media session in Parliament yesterday, Steenhuisen announced the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) has been working to develop a vaccine for some time. According to plans, a medium-sized vaccine facility, with a capacity of 150 000 to 200 000 doses per year, is on track to be operational by March 2026.
Also watch: John Steenhuisen announces foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) plan
Meanwhile, more vaccines will soon be imported from Botswana.
Dipepeneneng Serage, Deputy Director-General for Agricultural Production, Biosecurity and Natural Resources Management at the National Department of Agriculture, indicated the cost of the vaccine facility at the ARC will amount to about R1.2 billion. He said funds were allocated to the ARC for a vaccine facility a few years ago. Due to inflation and rising costs, the department was unable to build the facility. “Currently, we have about R600 million available for this.”
“We are looking for the rest of the funding and I know the minister is also approaching possible institutions to help with this. As soon as we have enough funds, we will start the process.” Serage says the goal is to have all the funds available so that, once they start the project, they can complete it as quickly as possible.
Furthermore, Serage said all livestock owners should take note that traceability will become increasingly important in the future.
Steenhuisen also focused on the plans with stray animals and communal farmers’ animals.
