Enhancing primary animal health care services
Livestock farming is one of the oldest forms of farming in Southern Africa, with livestock not just being a form of income but for many, a form of wealth and a means to a livelihood. Livestock however needs constant care in the form of food as well as medical attention to prevent the outbreak of disease which could see large losses within the communities.
What the National Department of Agriculture is doing
The Department Of Agriculture has a primary animal healthcare programme which is aimed at improving the accessibility and affordability of veterinary services, as well as improving awareness on animal health and welfare. In rolling out the programme over the medium term, spending will be geared towards the recapitalisation and revitalisation of veterinary infrastructure to create an enabling environment for the deployment of newly qualified veterinarians. The department planned to deploy 150 veterinary graduates in rural areas per year over the MTEF period. Major outbreaks of avian influenza and foot and mouth disease resulted in additional spending for the department in 2017/18. To contain the outbreaks, mobile veterinary clinics and associated equipment for laboratories were procured to strengthen veterinary public health in rural areas across all provinces.
KZN Agriculture and Rural Development sets a new standard
MEC of Agriculture and Rural Development Mr Themba Mthembu, has officially handed over the St. Paul Farmer Production Support Unit (FPSU) to communal livestock farmers in the Harry Gwala District.
MEC Mthembu says “Promising opportunities exist through increasing the participation in formal red meat markets, but access to these markets have been constrained by distance, lack of suitable marketing channels, lack of adequate information and poorly suited animals. It is for this reason, that the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform entered into a Service Level Agreement with the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) to promote and implement the red meat value chain in Harry Gwala District.”
What is the St. Paul Farmer Production Support Unit?
The St. Paul Farmer Production Support Unit is the first of its kind. It is a livestock AgriPark in KwaZulu-Natal which has an infrastructure investment of R7 million. It is said that it will benefit over 300 communal livestock through free feed supply. The centre also offers effective training on animal agriculture and guaranteed access to markets. MEC Mthembu said that having programmes like the FPSU will assist small-holder farmers in rural areas to get an opportunity to contribute in the formal markets by working with the private sector, auctioneering companies, feed companies as well as leading animal health companies.
What does it entail?
The St. Paul FSPU features 10 kraals with an animal capacity intake of about 500 cows. It also features an auction pen, a remedy house, a water supply reservoir and a storage facility that will benefit Harry Gwala Cooperative which has 82 members. The MEC says that the FSPU has been built by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and has a standing partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to provide extension and veterinary services.
The Department has committed in continuing to provide this support to benefit the livestock farmers in the area. MEC also reminded all livestock farmers to take advantage of the vaccination programme run by the KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to get their livestock vaccinated with Doraject AD3E which is a three in one supplement and which will also assist with deworming.