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Cattle feeding
The Southern Africa Agricultural Initiative has called on the government to commit to combat foot and mouth disease.
The organisation says the current outbreak of food and mouth disease is the biggest crisis to hit the livestock industry since the Anglo Boer War.
South Africa experienced significant outbreaks in 2024 and 2025 which started in KwaZulu-Natal and spreading to Free State, Mpumalanga and other provinces affecting beef exports and prices.
Executive Board Chairman of the Southern Africa Agricultural Initiative Dr Theo de Jager has urged farmers to set up special financing mechanisms.
He says they need to get regulations changed so that private sector can play a leading role in strategies to combat the disease.
“The biggest single challenge in combating this disease. It is the fact that it is a state-controlled disease and farmers are livid to the ineptitude of government officials to combat it. They can do little for themselves but for bio security measures in an effort to secure their farms and cattle herds,” says de Jager.
Video: Foot and Mouth | N West farmers call on government for help
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zAemhoaM_I
