MAFETENG — Foot and Mouth Disease has negatively affected the country’s economy, prompting authorities to urge farmers to remain cautious and work together to prevent the spread of the disease.
This was said by the Assistant Administration Manager Mr. Taelo Mohloai on behalf of the District Administrator during a Foot and Mouth Disease awareness campaign held at Kolo Resource Centre on Friday.
Mr. Mohloai appealed to farmers to join hands with the Ministry of Agriculture in fighting the disease in all its forms.
He urged community members who attended the campaign to return to their villages and share information on disease prevention with other farmers.
Mr. Mohloai said farmers in the district are fortunate because the area has not yet been affected by the outbreak.
Speaking at the same event, the District Agricultural Officer Mrs. ’Mamoholi Mphutlane said the country faces many hazards, with climate change being one of the major contributing factors to the spread of diseases and economic decline.
Mrs. Mphutlane said the outbreak has negatively affected the production of milk, wool and mohair, leaving many farmers struggling.
She warned that failure to comply with prevention measures could lead to more livestock deaths and greater economic challenges.
She further stated that although the disease has affected livestock in South Africa, Mafeteng district has not yet recorded any cases. She therefore urged farmers to follow all preventive measures carefully.
The Officer Commanding Ts’akholo Police Post, Inspector Hlapalimane Leluma, said he believes farmers have received adequate information on the disease and how it can be prevented.
Inspector Leluma warned that any farmer found violating regulations aimed at controlling the disease would be arrested and charged.
He called on farmers to support government efforts in fighting the outbreak.
Meanwhile, Technical Area Officer Mrs. Malibuseng Letsie explained that Foot and Mouth Disease is caused by a virus which cannot be seen with the naked eye and mainly affects cloven-hoofed animals.
She said signs of the disease include high fever, severe lameness, excessive drooling, reduced milk production and weight loss.
Mrs. Letsie noted that the disease affects cattle, goats, sheep and pigs, adding that it spreads quickly through direct contact with infected animals, contaminated environments and airborne transmission.
Farmers who attended the campaign thanked the ministry for bringing the awareness programme to their area and pledged to work towards preventing the disease, despite challenges caused by grazing areas located far from their villages.
They also expressed fear over the outbreak and promised to report any suspected cases to the Resource Centre Manager.
So far, Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks have been reported in the districts of Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Thaba-Tseka, Qacha’s Nek, Berea and Mohale’s Hoek.
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