There have been mixed reactions to Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen’s announcement that he will not stand for re-election as DA leader and will instead focus on his ministerial work and the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) crisis.

By Alani Janeke and Vida Booysen, senior journalists at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

The biggest concern raised in response to John Steenhuisen’s announcement on 4 February is the time it will take to implement the country’s vaccination strategy.

“We no longer have time to wait,” says Jane Holliday, dairy consultant at Intelact South Africa in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. “Why can’t we simply put a plan in place to vaccinate?”

Holiday says they believe that the traceability systems that still need to be implemented, together with administering the vaccinations, will only slow the process down. “How are farmers who are already under pressure, and emerging farmers, supposed to find the money to take part in this?”

She says they have many questions about why Design Biologix’s authorisation to import an FMD vaccine from the Argentinian company Biogénesis Bágo was withdrawn.

Also read: Steenhuisen to ‘pour heart and soul’ into FMD fight

Checklist

A post on the Facebook page Accountability for FMD in SA expresses respect for Steenhuisen’s decision to step down from the leadership race to focus on the FMD crisis before urging him to “bring that energy here”.

“Trade the campaign trail for the cattle crush. Trade the speeches for solutions. We are ready to work with you, but ‘focus’ means nothing without action.”

It’s followed by a checklist of issues that require attention:

Sign the permits. Stop the gatekeeping. If the private sector can bring vaccines in, let them. Sign the Section 21 permits immediately.
Unblock the vaccines. We need doses in hand, not “strategies” on paper. Get the supply moving to the farms that are desperate.
Restore the partnerships. You cannot do this alone. Bring the private experts (like Design Biologix) back to the table. We need a team effort, not a state monopoly.
Enforce accountability. Officials who sit on applications or delay action must answer for it. No more hiding behind red tape. If your department isn’t delivering, it’s time to change the people who run it.

nhb“You promised to make this your priority. This is the checklist. Let’s get it done.”

Checklist For John On Dealing With Fmd The Way He Said He Would

Deeper Consultation Needed

Some of the industry organisations that African Farming spoke to believe Steenhuisen and his team are not consulting “deeply enough” with the industry and the private sector. In recent interviews, as well as during a media briefing in parliament on 14 January this year, Steenhuisen said he had included the private sector from the start.

“The minister underestimated from the outset the level of commitment required to serve South Africa’s agricultural sector,” African Farming was told.

“Politicians must understand that when you are appointed to such a position, you are ultimately accountable. But it is not too late. There is a strong willingness to help him. The challenge will be to consult widely and bring all that support together.”

An ‘Open Door’ for Agricultural Stakeholders

Francois Wilken, chairman of Free State Agriculture (FSA), says he would like to see the minister adopt more of an open-door approach towards agricultural stakeholders. “He regularly says that he has included the private sector from the beginning; if so, where is the private sector?”

Referring to the legal action that FSA – together with the Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai) and Sakeliga is planning against Steenhuisen and his department, Wilken says the organisations made it clear in their letter that they could find no provision in the legislation preventing farmers from accessing a vaccine, and that they could not understand why Steenhuisen had not responded to them directly on the matter.

“I would like to see the minister of agriculture act more professionally. If he involves the private sector, it must be without conditions. I want a minister of agriculture, not politics.”

Also read: Steenhuisen hits back at industry groups over threatened FMD vaccine court action

‘This Is About Farmers’

Bennie van Zyl, general manager of TLU SA, says that when the Department of Agriculture and the minister deal with an issue such as FMD, every decision must be assessed in terms of how it affects farmers’ sustainability.

He adds that public announcements should not be made about involving the private sector if it later becomes clear that the state still wants to retain central control over the procurement and distribution of the vaccine.

It is important for government to acknowledge its capacity constraints – something Steenhuisen has already done, Van Zyl says. “He must use the expertise that is available, most of which lies in the private sector.

“We cannot put the same people in the department who caused the problems in charge of fixing them.”

He says they want to ask the minister to seize the opportunity, focus on farmers, and empower the private sector with everything it needs.

WATCH | SA’s own FMD vaccines – we were there!

Cautious Optimism About Commitment

Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) has welcomed Steenhuisen’s decision to focus full time on his role as minister of agriculture. The organisation says the current FMD crisis has far-reaching consequences for the red meat industry and the country’s economic stability.

“For the first time, we are seeing a minister of agriculture who, in cooperation with experts and the private sector, has developed a structured strategy. This approach, together with his dedicated attention, is the leadership that is urgently needed right now. RMIS is optimistic about what this commitment will mean for managing FMD.”

Dr Tobias Doyer, CEO of Grain SA, says the organisation serves grain farmers under any government and does not take a position on internal DA matters.

“Grain SA’s experience is that Minister Steenhuisen’s door is open to constructive cooperation and that he actively engages the Department of Agriculture. We have seen meaningful progress on certain issues, for example the cancellation of unnecessary inspection services by government contractors.”

Doyer says they are concerned about policy clarity within the Government of National Unity (GNU), for example, with regard to Steenhuisen’s active negotiations on the automation of the wheat tariff, as well as the promotion of exports in other sectors, while he does not enjoy the support of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.

“He is actively advocating for a more business-friendly environment and a supportive Department of Agriculture. However, the FMD crisis shows that gaps in service delivery and years of mismanagement cannot be turned around in a few months. We are therefore grateful that Minister Steenhuisen is remaining in his role and staying committed to delivering on his undertakings to the sector.”

Also read: Keeping Gauteng food secure amid the FMD outbreak

Auction Houses Offer Practical Solutions

Local auction houses say they can play a major role in helping to vaccinate the national herd quickly and efficiently. Like many other stakeholders in the red meat value chain, the auction industry has its own industry body looking after its interests during the FMD crisis, namely the South African Federation for Livestock Auctioneers (SAFLA).

SAFLA chairman Casper Schmidt’s message to government is, “We have solutions, if the state will give us the opportunity to be part of solving the problems.”

Referring specifically to large agricultural companies such as BKB, which have livestock divisions, Schmidt says their infrastructure is already in place to distribute and sell the FMD vaccine.

“I understand that the state needs to import and control the vaccine to ensure we get the correct vaccines for our virus serotypes, but then allow it to be distributed further by the private sector.”

BKB, for example, has trading branches in many smaller towns across six provinces, where other vaccines are already sold.

“Ultimately, I believe that the vaccines the state makes available will have to go through a trading branch to ensure the cold chain is maintained up to the point where they are sold to farmers.”

The state should also take note of the platform that auction facilities provide for vaccinating animals, says Johan Vosser, managing director of Vleissentraal Bosveld.

“For example, if a farmer arrives at an auction point with cattle that have not yet been vaccinated, the veterinarian on duty can do it there and attach the ear tag as confirmation. The animal is already in the crush and head clamp because it is inspected before the auction. At least then we know that only vaccinated cattle move on from that auction point.”

He also emphasises that there is a strong and united desire among all the major auction houses for the state to allow them to assist.

“There is no way the state can reach the entire national herd on its own. Larger farmers, or those who are used to vaccinating their animals every year against different diseases, will plan accordingly. They will get their vaccines and do it themselves. But if we want to vaccinate the entire national herd, auction houses will have to help get it to smaller farmers and communal farmers.”