||Kharas region farmers face severe financial pressure following the nationwide cancellation and postponement of livestock auctions caused by the recent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)outbreak.
The disease is highly contagious and affects cloven-hoofed animals like cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.
Lelanie Losper, a farmer in the Karasburg area, says the postponement or cancellation of auctions could result in financial pressure on farmers without financial reserves.
She says apart from monthly expenses, farmers depend on the sale of their items for the maintenance of vehicles and infrastructure, and the upkeep of their herds.
She says farmers will now need even more financial reserves to implement measures already announced and being announced by the department of veterinary services to curb the spread of FMD.
“Some of the auctions were scheduled to take place during this week and next week.
Many farmers are dependent on those auctions to cover their monthly expenditures and so on.
“Unfortunately these cancellations will deeply hurt farmers without financial reserves,” Losper says.
She describes the outbreak at a farm near Karasburg as “unexpected and concerning”.
Some 17 head of cattle out of 199 have tested positive for FMD in the Karasburg veterinary district.
All the confirmed cases are reportedly confined to this district.
Since the confirmation of an FMD outbreak last week, the government has instituted an immediate nationwide suspension on the movement, marketing, trade, import, export, and transit of all cloven-hoofed animals (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and game) and their raw products.
In a public notice, Agra Auctions announced that all livestock auctions nationwide have been cancelled due to FMD until 2 October, pending further veterinary guidance.
The company also announced the cancellation of the Gobabis Livestock Show auction.
“Consequently, Agra Auctions and SwiftVEE Namibia will no longer be livestreaming the event.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank our viewers and the livestock community for their understanding and continued support,” says a notice from Agra Auctions.
The company urges livestock producers to remain informed, follow official veterinary directives and strengthen biosecurity measures on their farms.
“Strict observance of biosecurity measures, responsible animal movement and early reporting will be key for producers, buyers and others involved in the livestock auction industry.
“However, remain in contact with livestock auction representatives for information on upcoming marketing activities and changes to scheduled auctions,” the company says.
Windhoek Livestock Auctioneers and Namibia Livestock Auctioneers have postponed all scheduled auctions until further notice.
When confirming the outbreak, acting minister of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform Charles Mubita said 199 samples were collected from across the country, including 117 from the Kharas region, 50 from Omaheke, 30 from Otjozondjupa, and one each from the |Khomas and Oshana regions.
