Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen has called for a “whole-of-society” approach to upgrade South Africa’s agricultural biosecurity and protect the country against animal and crop diseases.
In an article in Farmer’s Weekly, Steenhuisen said recent delays in reporting outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in cattle had highlighted gaps in the country’s preparedness.
“Outbreaks of FMD, African swine fever and avian influenza have resulted in the mass culling of livestock, reduced exports and economic distress among farmers. The most recent FMD outbreak forced a temporary nationwide cattle movement ban, disrupting supply chains and livelihoods.
“Beyond livestock, crop agriculture is also under siege. The fall army worm and fruit fly infestations are compromising harvests, threatening food security and making compliance with export regulations increasingly difficult.
“The EU and other trading partners impose strict biosecurity regulations, and repeated failures to meet standards could lead to lasting damage to South Africa’s agricultural reputation,” Steenhuisen wrote.
Tackling biosecurity risks could not be the job of the government alone.
“Farmers, agribusinesses, veterinarians, researchers and consumers all have a role to play. Without a collective approach that involves all sectors of society, South Africa will remain vulnerable to recurring outbreaks.”
Steenhuisen said South Africa should align the country’s biosecurity strategies with international best practices. He cited a biosecurity management programme developed by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), and early warning systems in Kenya and Uganda.
“The European Parliament’s best practices on whole-of-society resilience highlight the need for cross-sector collaboration, community involvement and proactive risk management.
“South Africa must build a biosecurity strategy that integrates government entities, industry leaders, and local communities to ensure long-term resilience,” Steenhuisen argued.
