By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza has announced the lifting of the countrywide ban on the movement of cattle, after a 21-day restriction.
The ban was introduced to prevent farmers from moving cattle to curb the spread of foot-and-mouth disease in several provinces.
The department’s spokesperson Reggie Ngcobo says the cooperation of traditional leaders, communities and the police helped limit the spread.
“It is encouraging that the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Northern Cape Provinces have not had a single case before and during the 21 days. In Gauteng and North West there has been suspect cases around quarantined farms and in Mpumalanga, no new cases have been picked up in past week.
“In Gauteng and North West there has been suspect cases around quarantined farms and in Mpumalanga, no new cases have been picked up in past week. In Limpopo we will retain the disease management area in the protected zone and around,” Ngcobo said.
He added that in Free State the department’s disease management area will cover the places where no improvement has been observed, including Marquad, Viljoen Skroon and Harrismith.
“In KwaZulu-Natal the disease management area will be retained in KwaNongoma, Ulundi, KwaHlabisa, eHluhluwe and eMtubatuba.”
Didiza said the department will continue with surveillance and vaccination in areas that still has active infections.
We call upon farmers and communities to observe the health protocols that have been put in place and refrain from illegal movement of cattle/animals. Once again, I call for improvement in the primary animal health care and the strengthening of biosecurity measures by all farmers, feedlots and auctioneers.”
Foot and mouth is a contagious disease that affects domesticated and wild animals and can be fatal to animals and livestock.
Meanwhile the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), has invited eligible consultants to provide technical assistance and implementation management structure of two Agri Park projects.
Established in 2015, the approach of the South Africa Agri-Park Program (SA-APP) is to capitalise on the strengths of small towns and to revitalise their economies, through crowding-in of investments for agricultural and other value chains development.