Windhoek
Despite the advice to farmers to sell some of their livestock, farmers in the north central regions are unable to sell their cattle because of the recent Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak detected in May.
The Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) has since put some measures in place to contain the further spread of the disease. Some of the measures that have been enforced include a ban on livestock marketing; vaccination and revaccination; restrictions on livestock movements and livestock products and surveillance teams at strategic points.
The marketing of livestock is generally progressing well in most parts in the south and central parts of the country, following the advice of the government that farmers should sell some of their livestock because of the serious drought conditions this year.
According to the latest Crop Prospects, Food Security and Drought Situation Report of the government, the recent FMD outbreak in the north central regions affected the destocking and marketing of livestock exercise as part of the drought mitigating measures. Furthermore, farmers north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF) are complaining about the lack of formal marketing facilities in their areas, which is said to hamper the effective marketing of livestock.
The report also notes that poor grazing conditions, which are widely reported in various parts of the country, is threatening livestock production this season. Water availability for livestock has reached critical conditions as most catchment areas did not receive significant inflow this year. The affected regions are mostly the north central regions that are heavily dependent on surface/rainfall water for livestock consumptions. The report requests that the Directorate of Agriculture Production, Extension and Engineering Services to reiterate its advice to farmers affected by poor grazing conditions to take necessary precautionary measures, such as destocking and culling while livestock are still in fair condition to avoid a complete loss.
The government has since re-introduced support services such as the livestock marketing incentives, transport and lease of grazing and livestock fodder/hay and animal health packages as part of this year’s drought relief measures.