FMD sends 28 workers on leave

The foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the ǁKharas region has forced one Keetmanshoop livestock operator to send 28 workers on leave after shutting down its abattoir and feedlots.

Johan Blaauw, owner of Meat To Market in Keetmanshoop, compared the situation to the Covid-19 pandemic, saying the main difference was that people could still move around while animals are now under quarantine.

“The industry shut down overnight, and it is a mess. I closed the abattoir and sent 15 people on leave following the announcement of the FMD outbreak and the measures introduced by the directorate of veterinary services (DVS),” Blaauw said.

He has also closed the feedlots and sent another 13 employees on leave, while his trucks are no longer operating.

“We cannot even move feed for our animals. I will be forced to retrench people if the FMD outbreak is not resolved quickly,” he said.

Blaauw said the shutdown was becoming increasingly costly because livestock still had to be fed and workers paid despite normal trading being disrupted.

“I have to pay salaries of N$60 000 and have 350 cattle in the kraal, which requires feed costing N$23 000 per day," he said.

“I do not know how we are going to survive. It is a disaster and will have to be declared as such. Something has to be done quickly,” Blaauw said.

His butchery, which employs another 15 people, has enough stock to continue operating for about another week.

“After that I will have to close down, and this will affect more than 50 people who depend directly on the livestock sector and meat exports," he said.

"The tonnes of meat returning from overseas markets will result in an oversupply and a drop in prices. Who will come to my assistance?” Blaauw added.

The outbreak has also led to the cancellation of Agra and ǁKharas livestock auctions, cutting off another source of income for farmers and businesses linked to livestock trading.

“People depend on these events to make money and sustain their livelihoods. What now?” Blaauw said.

Stock under pressure

The effects are also reaching butcheries and retailers, where existing meat stocks are being depleted while movement restrictions complicate efforts to replenish supplies.

Christine Swiegers, owner of Suide Koelkamers, said her business still had enough meat products for about two weeks, but ingredients used for some products were already running short.

“People really panicked. We will still have meat products available for the next two weeks. Trimmings for certain products are starting to run out, and we might not have mince and boerewors on our shelves soon,” she said.

Swiegers said businesses needed greater clarity on what could be transported under the restrictions.

“The situation is serious, and the outbreak must be stopped as fast as possible. We are not objecting to what the ministry is doing in terms of closing off the area and containing the disease, but there is confusion about what can be transported and what cannot,” she said.

She argued that approved businesses should be permitted to source meat from unaffected areas while the outbreak is contained.

“We should be allowed to bring in clean meat supplied by approved abattoirs from clean areas. We have a butchery in Mariental but cannot bring in clean meat. We have daily clients and clients throughout the south of Namibia who depend on us,” Swiegers said.

She warned that shortages and uncertainty over transportation could also encourage some people to circumvent restrictions.

“Let us say, for example, a shop in Oranjemund is without meat, and DVS prohibits a supplier who respects the rules from delivering. There are some who will take the opportunity at the expense of others, motivated by money, while others might do it to survive,” she said.

Swiegers said her employees' jobs were not immediately at risk.

“We are covered in terms of paying the salaries of our workers. I pray and am optimistic that we will not have to lay off anyone. We survived Covid and always land on our feet,” she said.

A manager at Keetmanshoop SuperSpar said meat purchased before the outbreak was also being depleted.

“We do, however, have a huge supply of chicken,” the manager said.

The manager, who did not want to be identified, said the restrictions could have consequences beyond retailers and livestock businesses, particularly for hospitality establishments serving tourists in southern Namibia.

“Some products on their menus will no longer be available. What are they to do?” he said.

Industry seeks controlled reopening

Blaauw wants authorities to consider allowing controlled slaughtering and supply to the domestic market if testing shows that livestock outside the affected area remains free of FMD.

“Next week we will reach the 14-day period. If animals on farms adjacent to the epicentre of the FMD outbreak test negative, they should close the area from Grünau to the Ariamsvlei and Noordoewer borders and allow us to do business at least inland,” Blaauw said.

He also wants clarity on how quarantine and testing will work as the restrictions continue.

“What type of tests will be conducted, and will the laboratories be able to deal with the huge demand? Can farmers test and slaughter after the 30-day waiting period?

"Do they need additional quarantine camps, or do the farms serve as quarantine camps?” Blaauw asked.

Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani told parliament on Wednesday that the outbreak has spread to over five farms in the Karasburg area.