The government can make as many laws as it wants to control foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), but if those laws are not enforced, they mean nothing, says Frik van Rooyen, chairman of the national Red Meat Producers’ Organisation.

By Charl van Rooyen, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

The lack of enforcement of legislation on foot-and-mouth disease in South Africa is a major problem, Van Rooyen told delegates at the Namibian Livestock Producers’ Organisation (LPO) annual congress in Windhoek. He and Dr Frikkie Maré, CEO of the national Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO), attended the congress, where discussions focused on the cattle, sheep and goat industries. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) featured prominently.

Van Rooyen said strict adherence to biosecurity measures is of the utmost importance, because FMD often breaks out in places where it is least expected.

It cannot be said with certainty how the disease spreads in South Africa. It can be transmitted by workers when the virus sticks to their clothing, or it could even be “planted”. “We simply don’t know.”

FMD is having a severe effect on farmers’ livelihoods, Van Rooyen said. “It’s like a wildfire that brings livestock farmers to their knees because they cannot sell their products. Small-scale farmers, in particular, rely on regularly selling animals to pay their bills and put food on the table.

“I don’t think the average South African realises how much pain farmers are in. We must do everything in our power to help them.”

Also read: FMD outbreaks in JB Marks: Many communal farmers do not comply with protocols

Neglect Leaves Farmers Vulnerable

Such challenges are not new. In the past, other sectors – including the ostrich, apple, mango and citrus industries – have also faced major disease outbreaks but have managed to find solutions.

“FMD is now an enormous problem, and many farmers have been brought to their knees because there is no plan. The disease has been neglected for years,” Van Rooyen added.

Ivor Karan, the founder of Karan Beef, warned six years ago that South Africa needed a plan to deal with FMD, but nothing was done. So government was caught on the back foot when the disease struck.

Also read: New FMD cases confirmed at Gauteng feedlots; possible case in Free State

Imported Vaccines Fill Local Gap

“The state has failed us to some extent,” Van Rooyen said. “We can no longer produce a vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease ourselves; we now have to buy it from other countries.”

South Africa currently sources an FMD vaccine from Botswana.

Van Rooyen said South Africans needed to take the matter into their own hands and find a way to produce the vaccine again. “I realise that FMD is a state-controlled disease, but government is no longer able to manage it.”