Farmers in the Western Cape received a major boost on Tuesday night, 10 March, with the arrival of 100 000 foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccinations at Cape Town International Airport. Vaccination of farm animals across the province will be continued first thing this morning.
The vaccines were procured by the national Department of Agriculture and were originally scheduled to arrive in the province later this week. In light of the urgency of the situation, Chris Fourie from Dairy Management Consulting and also a member of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture’s FMD War Room approached the Shoprite Group to enquire whether the retailer could assist with urgent transportation of the vaccines from Gauteng to the Western Cape. The Group immediately agreed and deployed its company aircraft, which flew to Lanseria on Tuesday to collect the vaccines and returned to Cape Town on the same day.
“This is a powerful example of what can be achieved when all role players – including local government and retail – work together in the best interests of our primary industry in order to ensure its survival,” said Fourie.
Also read: ‘No farmer or village will be left behind’ – first cattle receive FMD vaccines in North West
This swift intervention has enabled the province to bring forward the vaccination programme, providing critical protection to livestock and much-needed reassurance to farmers.
The rapid delivery of these vaccines demonstrates the Western Cape’s unwavering commitment to protecting our agricultural sector,” said Dr Ivan Meyer, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism. “I want to thank our partners in the private sector for stepping up when it mattered most. By working together, we are safeguarding livelihoods, strengthening biosecurity, and ensuring our farmers receive the urgent support they need.”
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