Maseru, Dec. 15 — The Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition Mr. Thabo Mofosi has urged stakeholders to collaborate in the fight against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) as the country remains at risk due to trade, cross border movement and geographical location.
This he said at the stakeholders meeting held in Maseru on Monday, which brought together representatives from the Ministry, different Government Ministries, Private Sector and Farmers with the objective to consult and deliberate on the establishment of the FMD Multi-Sectoral Task Team, as the strategic government initiative to combat this disease.
Mr. Mofosi warned that the spread of this disease is continuing to increase in some neighbouring countries and becomes a threat to Lesotho, urging the participants to collaborate and implement whatever they agreed upon.
He also commended Veterinary Doctors for ensuring the country remains free from the disease, emphasising the need for inclusion of traders in the fight against FMD.
Speaking at the same meeting, the Director General in the Ministry Dr. Relebohile Lepheana said the cross border movement of unregistered livestock due to theft as well as lack of resources, veterinary doctors and limited budget to fight the disease are also challenges that puts the country at risk of FMD. . .
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