AgriSA notes the announcement made today by the minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, outlining the strengthened national foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) strategy and acknowledges the considerable efforts underway within the Department of Agriculture to stabilise the current situation.
The updated strategy reflects a more coordinated, risk-based, and science-led approach to vaccination, surveillance, movement control, and zoning, which is essential to containing the disease and restoring confidence in the livestock industry.
AgriSA further expresses its strong support for the ongoing industry-led interventions being driven by commodity organisations across the livestock value chain. These efforts will be instrumental in limiting further spread and sustaining market access under extremely difficult conditions.
AgriSA encourages even deeper collaboration between commodity bodies, provincial structures, veterinarians, producer organisations, and grassroots farmer networks to ensure consistent implementation, shared intelligence, and rapid response at farm level.
While the current crisis remains serious, AgriSA remains confident in South African agriculture’s long-term ability to regain its FMD-free status. The sector has repeatedly demonstrated resilience through droughts, disease outbreaks, and infrastructure constraints.
“With sustained cooperation between government and industry, adequate resourcing of the national strategy, and strong participation by farmers on the ground, South Africa can progressively stabilise outbreaks, protect disease-free zones and work toward the recovery of internationally recognised FMD-free status,” said Willem de Chavonnes Vrugt, Agri SA president.
AgriSA stands committed to constructive engagement with the Department of Agriculture and all stakeholders to ensure the successful execution of the national FMD response in the interest of farmers, rural livelihoods, and the broader economy.
Enquiries
Willem de Chavonnes Vrugt, AgriSA president
Cell: +27 82 946 2303
