NORTH WEST LEGISLATURE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE COMMENDS PROGRESS IN FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE VACCINATION DRIVE DURING BOJANALA OVERSIGHT WEEK

The North West Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, chaired by Hon. Sipho Dial, has welcomed the significant progress made by the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the ongoing Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination campaign in the Moretele Local Municipality.

The Committee made the observation during its Oversight Week Programme currently underway in the Bojanala District. The programme seeks to strengthen legislative oversight, promote accountability and provide communities with an opportunity to engage directly with government departments on service delivery matters.

The Committee visited Moretele to assess the implementation of the Department’s FMD vaccination rollout plan and its impact on protecting the province’s agricultural economy. The intervention is regarded as critical in safeguarding livestock, sustaining farmers’ livelihoods and preventing disruptions to agricultural production and trade.

More than 60 farmers attended the oversight engagement, where they received progress reports from the Department and shared their experiences regarding the vaccination programme.

The majority of farmers welcomed the Department’s intervention, describing it as timely and essential in protecting the livestock industry and supporting economic development within the province. Farmers, however, highlighted several operational challenges that require attention.

Among the concerns raised was that some cattle could not be vaccinated because they were difficult to handle due to their temperament, making the vaccination process challenging. Farmers further recommended that the Department introduce a livestock tagging system to clearly identify animals that have already been vaccinated, thereby preventing duplication and improving the efficiency of future vaccination campaigns.

Additional concerns included the urgent need for fencing along major roads to prevent livestock-related road accidents, as well as the provision and rehabilitation of livestock handling facilities, many of which have deteriorated and make vaccination and other animal health interventions difficult.

The Department committed to returning to the Moretele area during the coming week to continue vaccinating livestock that could not be reached during the current rollout.
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Hon. Sipho Dial, commended the Department for its swift intervention in responding to the outbreak and encouraged it to sustain the momentum until all affected livestock have been vaccinated.

The Committee will continue to visit other sites within the Bojanala District and monitor the implementation of the vaccination programme and the Department’s commitments to ensure that farmers receive the necessary support to safeguard livestock and strengthen agricultural production across the province.

Ends

Related Posts