Farming communities in Namibia's Omaheke Region have welcomed Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform engagements on foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) prevention.
The sessions targeted the Otjombinde and Otjinene constituencies, where farmers acknowledged the campaign's importance.
The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in neighboring countries threatens Namibia's economic growth, disrupts trade, impacts animal health, and reduces income.|
This was the combined view of industry experts on the prevailing FMD outbreak in South Africa, Botswana, and Lesotho.
Namibia is intensifying efforts to safeguard its internationally recognised foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-free zone following rising outbreaks in the Southern African region.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform (MAFWLR), Inge Zaamwani, says despite Namibia's status as a Foot and Mouth Disease free (FMD) zone, developments in neighbouring countries necessitate heightened surveillance and vigilance.
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform has urged the farming community not to panic amidst the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease in some SADC countries.
The disease has been confirmed in South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
The movement of dried meat of cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and certain wild animals is now allowed into the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) free zone without a veterinary permit, provided that all portions of the meat are cooked and free of blood.
