WINDHOEK – The shifting of the Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF) or the Red Line requires clear minds and a very well thought-out strategic approach, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Alpheus !Naruseb has said.
The minister who addressed the media yesterday, said shifting the red line is indeed a long-term strategy that will gradually move the VCF further north to the border of Namibia and Angola.
However, !Naruseb said government’s medium-term approach is to continue with its vigorous vaccination campaigns in the Northern Communal Areas (NCA).
The campaigns are aimed at controlling the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Lung sickness (CBPP), the minister pointed out.
“Vaccination against FMD will particularly be intensified in the FMD infected zone which covers the Zambezi Region, and the Mukwe and Ndiyona constituencies in Kavango East Region, in order to reduce the frequency of FMD outbreaks in the areas,” he explained.
!Naruseb said these areas are prone to FMD outbreaks because of the presence of the free roaming wild African buffaloes which are carriers of the FMD virus.
Moreover, he said the vaccinations are complemented by intensifying the surveillance of animal movements.
“Access to markets will be enhanced by operationalising the abattoirs in the NCAs, to allow Commodity Based Trading in line with guidelines of the World Organisation for Animals Health as espoused under Article 8.8.33 of the movement of deboned beef from NCA export abattoirs to areas south of the VCF, and exports to regional and international markets,” he said.
Furthermore, !Naruseb said government has an ongoing project to construct, upgrade and renovate all the abattoirs and meat processing facilities in the NCAs, that is, Opuwo, Outapi, Oshakati, Eenhana, Rundu and Katima Mulilo, including the meat processing facilities at Ongwediva and Bukalo.
Additionally, !Naruseb said government will also establish feedlots in selected areas in the NCAs where livestock can be fed with quality fodder supplied from the Green Scheme Irrigation Projects in order to improve the quality of livestock destined for the market with a view to improving the prices of communal farmers.
Naruseb remarked that access of livestock farmers to the market will also be increased through compartmentalising certain areas along the VCT.
“We have identified, Karikubis in Kavango Region, Magetti East farms in Kavango West Region, Magetti West and Onalusheshete farms in Oshikoto Region, Ombuga area in Oshana Region, Omutambo Maowe in Omusati Region and Sesfontein area in Kunene Region, for the creation of disease free compartments to enable marketing of livestock products on both sides of the VCF,” he said.
He said these compartments will be fenced off using the livestock-proof double fences and the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) will implement the biosecurity measures to maintain disease freedom.