Foot-and-mouth disease threatens food security

SOUTH Africa faces a looming food security crisis as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) spreads across the country, destroying cattle, disrupting milk and meat production, and costing farmers millions of rand.

- WENDY JASSON DA COSTA

Industry bodies yesterday warned that delayed vaccines, unclear regulations, and insufficient government coordination could intensify the impact on livelihoods, rural communities, and the national food supply.

While milk supplies are stable right now, experts worry that the FMD outbreak could destabilise production if vaccines are not delivered promptly.

"We don’t know what the total effect is going to be and when it’s going to stop, because we don’t know when the vaccine is going to arrive,” said Bertus Van Heerden from Milk SA.