The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) provincial leader, Jan van Niekerk, and the Harrismith district farmers’ association met with the Free State MEC for Agriculture, Ms Elzabé Rockman, as well as key role players in the agricultural sector, including Dr Jurgens Barnard, Acting Director of State Veterinary Services, on Wednesday.
The constructive discussion centred on the serious challenges relating to foot-and-mouth disease in the province, including the financial pressure on farmers and the negative impact on the Free State economy.
Although no vaccines are currently available in the country, it is expected that vaccines will be available by February and that vaccination programmes for hot spots will be prioritised.
The Freedom Front Plus insisted that all foot-and-mouth disease-related treatment should be free, as this is a state-controlled disease.
The party also pressed for faster and more effective testing as well as immediate vaccination at sites with confirmed cases to prevent further spread.
It is crucial to limit any unnecessary movement of livestock and that farmers keep in constant contact with their neighbours to reduce the risk of spread.
Follow-up meetings with Rockman are scheduled for March with the aim of evaluating progress and discussing practical interventions.
The Freedom Front Plus wants to emphasise that no single sector is capable of handling this crisis on its own. A sustainable solution will only be arrived at through close collaboration between veterinarians, farmers, the government and laboratories.
The Freedom Front Plus is fully committed to addressing the foot-and-mouth disease crisis through cooperation to ensure food security and Free State farmers’ survival.
