Berea, May 20 – – – Livestock and small stock farmers in Berea say the ongoing Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak has become a major economic setback that is pushing many households deeper into poverty.
The concerns were raised during a Foot and Mouth Disease awareness campaign organised by the Department of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition at the Teyateyaneng Youth Resource Centre on Wednesday.
The campaign follows confirmed cases of FMD reported in areas including Ha-Mokhothu and Ha-Koali.
Speaking in an interview, dairy farmer Mr. Makhetha Leokaoke said the declaration of FMD as a national emergency has severely affected their livelihoods as farmers are no longer allowed to sell milk to the district dairy.
Mr. Leokaoke explained that his cows previously produced between 15 and 20 litres of milk daily, but he is now unable to market the milk due to restrictions imposed under the state of emergency.
He said attempts to sell milk locally have not been successful because community members’ buying power remains low, resulting in large quantities of milk going to waste.
Mr. Leokaoke further indicated that purchasing fodder has become increasingly difficult due to the loss of income from milk sales, while paying herders has also become a challenge, forcing some farmers to lay off workers.
He noted that farmers had worked closely with Area Technical Officers from the Livestock Department, who visited farms to inspect animals for possible signs of FMD, but no infections were detected on some farms.
According to Mr. Leokaoke, farmers feel abandoned with limited support from government while their businesses are on the verge of collapse. He also expressed concern that no vaccine has been provided to farmers.
Another livestock and dairy products seller, Mr. Ts’epo Khati, said livestock farming remains one of Basotho’s main sources of livelihood through the sale of animals and dairy products.
However, he said the FMD outbreak has resulted in major financial losses, especially because livestock trading depends on timely transactions.
Mr. Khati explained that farmers are now required to obtain clearance certificates before selling livestock, but delays in obtaining permits from the District Veterinary Office often result in farmers losing potential buyers.
He noted that Berea currently has only one District Veterinary Officer, making it difficult to serve the entire district effectively.
Mr. Khati also warned that some dairy farmers continue to sell milk directly to local communities instead of delivering it to dairies, a situation he said could increase the risk of spreading the disease.
He urged government to intensify awareness campaigns, particularly in remote areas, in order to combat misinformation surrounding the outbreak.
Meanwhile, small stock farmer Mr. Mthimkhulu Rapopo said the outbreak emerged at a critical period when farmers were preparing for goat shearing activities.
Mr. Rapopo explained that although shearing activities have resumed, wool cannot currently be exported and is instead being stored in wool sheds, raising fears that storage space may soon run out.
He added that wool which had crossed the border before the declaration of the state of emergency remains stranded at ports, leaving farmers without income and increasing fears of additional storage costs.
Mr. Rapopo also expressed concern that even if Lesotho is eventually cleared to export wool internationally, prices per kilogramme may decline because of the outbreak.
Speaking during the campaign, District Veterinary Officer Dr. Lebohang Moroke described FMD as a highly infectious viral disease affecting cattle, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed animals.
Dr. Moroke stressed that although the disease is not transmissible to humans, it carries serious economic consequences, making preventive measures essential.
She encouraged farmers to inspect their livestock regularly and report any suspicious signs to veterinary authorities.
According to Dr. Moroke, affected animals may develop fever and blister-like sores on the tongue, lips, mouth, teats and between the hooves, making movement difficult and leading to severe production losses.
She further stressed that movement of livestock remains strictly prohibited without permits issued by the District Veterinary Office.
Sharing similar sentiments, District Agricultural Officer Mrs. Malerato Lekhooa said Berea remains highly vulnerable to FMD, warning that food security and industries such as wool, mohair and dairy production could be severely affected if preventive measures are not strengthened.
District Disaster Manager Mrs. Nts’ilane Baholo Maliehe assured participants that the national FMD response plan has been approved and that the District Disaster Management Team, working with the Department of Agriculture, will continue conducting awareness campaigns across different sectors.
Mrs. Maliehe urged farmers and community members to comply with regulations aimed at containing the spread of the disease, stressing that disaster management is everyone’s responsibility.
Districts that have so far reported confirmed cases of FMD include Mokhotlong, Botha-Bothe, Leribe, Thaba-Tseka, Qacha’s Nek, Mohale’s Hoek and Berea.
Ends/RM
