New 10-year plan to combat foot-and-mouth disease

However, commercial farmers say that vaccine shortages and slow implementation are worsening a devastating crisis

- Sheree Bega

Unprecedented challenges: Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen acknowledged the severe impact of the disease on South Africa's livestock sector since the country lost its FMD-free status in 2019. Photo: Supplied

(Supplied)

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen this week unveiled a decade-long national strategy to contain and eventually eradicate foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), promising phased vaccination, strengthened surveillance and a return to international disease-free status.

However, some commercial farmers and agricultural experts warn that the plan is disconnected from the realities of fast-spreading outbreaks, vaccine shortages and weak implementation.

Steenhuisen acknowledged, at a briefing on Wednesday, the severe impact of the disease on South Africa’s livestock sector since the country lost its FMD-free status in 2019, saying farmers had dealt with “unprecedented challenges” as outbreaks spread across multiple provinces.

“I have received many pleas for help, from commercial to communal farmers, who have borne the heavy burden of the recent FMD outbreaks in the country,” the minister said.

“We see your struggles ... I want to assure you today that we have a plan that is both realistically achievable and technically sound.”

Steenhuisen outlined a 10-year roadmap that would begin with stabilisation and consolidation before moving towards the eventual withdrawal of vaccination and final recognition of national freedom through vaccination by the World Organisation for Animal Health, the global authority on animal health.

Still, he cautioned that vaccination alone would not eradicate the disease. “Vaccination is not a silver bullet,” the minister said, describing it as one of several tools required to interrupt virus transmission and protect the national herd.