Dire consequences for livestock industry without VCF
Controversial fence protects lucrative sector
For the area north of the veterinary cordon fence to be declared free of disease, the open border with Angola and livestock movement across this border needs to be addressed.
An outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) south of the veterinary cordon fence (VCF) will lead to an immediate suspension of Namibia's FMD-free zone and an instant loss of its lucrative beef export markets.
The Meat Board of Namibia says that this will mean no more meat and weaner exports and the immediate collapse of an industry valued at N$7 billion.
The VCF goes hand in hand with the history of animal disease control in Namibia, the board explains.
The outbreak of bovine lung sickness and rinderpest in 1897 necessitated a greatly expanded veterinary infrastructure.
“To prevent the spread of rinderpest, a veterinary demarcation was established, which was the very beginning of the VCF as it is known today.”
Today, the VCF is still used as an animal disease control measure.
The biggest and most costly outbreak experienced in Namibia, according to the meat board, occurred between 1961 and 1964, with an FMD outbreak in the eastern Windhoek district.
“This outbreak caused immeasurable economic losses to Namibia as a whole and serves as a reminder of what can be expected should another outbreak occur in the FMD-free zone of the country.”
Deadly contact
FMD is caused by a virus carried by the African Buffalo. Contact between cattle and buffalo is the most common way in which the virus spreads. It can also be spread by animal products like meat, hides and skins.
The board explains that free movement of buffalo in the Zambezi and Kavango East Regions, the open border with Angola in the north of the country and illegal cattle movements into Namibia from neighbouring countries, leads to regular contact of cattle with buffalo or other infected cattle, and thus the possibility of regular FMD outbreaks.
Market access
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recognises the area south of the fence as free from FMD without vaccination, free from CBPP and free from small ruminant pest (PPR).
“This official status enables Namibia to trade in meat with some of the world’s most lucrative markets.”
The VCF and additional controls play a crucial role in the obtaining and maintaining of this official status.
“The loss of official disease status through the removal or inactivation of the VCF will thus have dire consequences for the Namibian livestock sector and the Namibia economy at large,” the board warns.
Value addition
For the area north of the VCF to be declared free of disease, the open border with Angola and the regular movement of livestock across this border needs to be addressed.
“As long as there is livestock movement across this border, the VCF will have to stay intact to maintain official disease status and access to lucrative livestock and meat export markets.”
Agriculture’s contribution to GDP, excluding fishing, over the last five years, amounted to just over 4%.
Livestock farming contributes to approximately two-thirds of agricultural production.
Meat processing contributes another 0.2 - 0.4 % of GDP.
The export of livestock has historically contributed to about two-thirds of agricultural exports by value and livestock farming remains an important foreign exchange earner for Namibia.
The Meat Board of Namibia says that this will mean no more meat and weaner exports and the immediate collapse of an industry valued at N$7 billion.
The VCF goes hand in hand with the history of animal disease control in Namibia, the board explains.
The outbreak of bovine lung sickness and rinderpest in 1897 necessitated a greatly expanded veterinary infrastructure.
“To prevent the spread of rinderpest, a veterinary demarcation was established, which was the very beginning of the VCF as it is known today.”
Today, the VCF is still used as an animal disease control measure.
The biggest and most costly outbreak experienced in Namibia, according to the meat board, occurred between 1961 and 1964, with an FMD outbreak in the eastern Windhoek district.
“This outbreak caused immeasurable economic losses to Namibia as a whole and serves as a reminder of what can be expected should another outbreak occur in the FMD-free zone of the country.”
Deadly contact
FMD is caused by a virus carried by the African Buffalo. Contact between cattle and buffalo is the most common way in which the virus spreads. It can also be spread by animal products like meat, hides and skins.
The board explains that free movement of buffalo in the Zambezi and Kavango East Regions, the open border with Angola in the north of the country and illegal cattle movements into Namibia from neighbouring countries, leads to regular contact of cattle with buffalo or other infected cattle, and thus the possibility of regular FMD outbreaks.
Market access
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recognises the area south of the fence as free from FMD without vaccination, free from CBPP and free from small ruminant pest (PPR).
“This official status enables Namibia to trade in meat with some of the world’s most lucrative markets.”
The VCF and additional controls play a crucial role in the obtaining and maintaining of this official status.
“The loss of official disease status through the removal or inactivation of the VCF will thus have dire consequences for the Namibian livestock sector and the Namibia economy at large,” the board warns.
Value addition
For the area north of the VCF to be declared free of disease, the open border with Angola and the regular movement of livestock across this border needs to be addressed.
“As long as there is livestock movement across this border, the VCF will have to stay intact to maintain official disease status and access to lucrative livestock and meat export markets.”
Agriculture’s contribution to GDP, excluding fishing, over the last five years, amounted to just over 4%.
Livestock farming contributes to approximately two-thirds of agricultural production.
Meat processing contributes another 0.2 - 0.4 % of GDP.
The export of livestock has historically contributed to about two-thirds of agricultural exports by value and livestock farming remains an important foreign exchange earner for Namibia.
Comments
Harry Tjihukununa
Agree with the sentiment that we must get the Northern meat house-VCF in order be fre we take such a drastic decision. With our crippled economy we cannot afford to loose earnings of N$ 7 billion.