Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism
With reference to the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the province and its impact on livestock farmers:
- Whether any disaster management or emergency relief funding has been allocated or requested by his Department in response to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease; if so, (a) how much funding has been allocated or requested and (b) from which source or sphere of government was the funding allocated or requested;
- (a) what immediate support measures have been implemented to assist affected farmers, particularly emerging and small-scale farmers who have suffered livestock losses or economic hardship as a result of the outbreak and related containment measures and (b) what interventions are being implemented to assist affected farmers to recover economically and restore farming operations once containment measures are lifted?
(1) Yes funding has been allocated in response to the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease.
(a) R 100 million was requested, and the Provincial Treasury approved the allocation
(b) Western Cape Government funding.
(2) (a) Vaccinations of cattle by State Veterinarians, Private Veterinarians, and Animal Health Technicians. Bio-security measures have been enhanced and animal movement control measures have also been implemented.
(b) Foot and Mouth Disease does not cause massive mortalities - deaths affect about 5% of affected animals. Damages emanate from loss of production. Affected animals and flocks at risk have been vaccinated to lessen the impact of the disease. The Department continues to pursue export markets and new opportunities and continues to engage the industry on these developments.
