FMD support fund reaches N$13 million

Namibia’s newly launched foot-and-mouth disease support fund has secured N$12.76 million from unions and corporations to bolster national biosecurity and emergency response efforts.

The fund is organised by Namibia’s four farmers’ unions, the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) and the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN) to respond to the threat of an FMD outbreak in Namibia.

The fund was officially launched at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform’s head office in Windhoek on Thursday, with N$11 million raised at the event.

Bank Windhoek and FNB Namibia both committed N$2 million, Namib Mills and FeedMaster contributed N$1.5 million each, and Agrimark contributed N$200 000.

The Reho Group gave N$500 000 directly to the fund and earmarked N$500 000 for increased biosecurity at its own operations.

The Namibia Agricultural Union pledged N$3 million annually, to be spent in coordination, management of the fund, and awareness training for farmers.

Ingrid Henckert-Weissnar, who is a member of the FMD task force and organised the fund, at the event said the first contribution to the fund was an anonymous farmer with N$5 000.

Veterinary officer Natangwe Amuthenu personally committed N$5 000 to the fund.

Agra announced its contribution of N$1.55 million on Friday.

N$1 million is directly pledged to the fund, N$500 000 is to be used to strengthen Agra’s biosecurity protocols, and N$50 000 was raised by employee contributions.

The fund aims to raise N$50 million to complement the N$57 million allocated by the agriculture ministry for awareness, prevention, and rapid response.

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