Foot-and-mouth outbreak: SA needs to revitalise its ability to produce animal vaccines, says agricultural economist
It's being reported that government is considering restrictions on the movement of livestock after a major beef producer in Gauteng confirmed foot-and-mouth disease.
Image by Ralph from Pixabay.
The Money Show's Stephen Grootes talks to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz).
It's being reported that the Agriculture Department is considering restrictions on the movement of livestock after top producer Karan Beef confirmed foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) at its facility in Gauteng.
Karan said it is working with the state veterinarian to ensure swift containment and to minimise any further risk to the broader industry.
RELATED: South Africa's largest beef producer confirms foot-and-mouth disease at it's Heidelberg facility
On Thursday, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said government is upgrading state veterinary institution Onderstepoort so that South Africa can become self-sufficient in animal vaccines to fight livestock diseases, reports News24.
Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) is the facility's vaccine manufacturing arm.
Our first step to building biosecurity is about revitalising our capability as a country to produce vaccines at facilities like OBP, says agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo.
"Over time we've lost capacity, and in part that is why we are sitting in some of the positions we are sitting in today. "
Wandile Sihlobo, Chief Economist - Agbiz
"This is really a wake-up call, in addition to some cases we've seen recently."
Wandile Sihlobo, Chief Economist - Agbiz
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