South Africa’s farmers have just been handed a powerful new tool. The Department of Agriculture has launched an online self-vaccination application portal that allows livestock owners to apply for authorisation to vaccinate their own animals against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) — a smart, digital step that puts herd protection directly in farmers’ hands.
Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp said the new system enables cattle owners and managers to perform voluntary vaccination of their livestock, with government and the private sector pulling together.
“This step is only the beginning, and I can assure all stakeholders that the Department of Agriculture is committed to enabling the private sector to help tackle this FMD outbreak,” Aucamp said.
How the Portal Works
The portal, available through the FMD Reporting System at fmd.nda.gov.za, was designed around biosecurity requirements, legal prescripts and traceability. The process has three simple parts:
- Apply to be an authorised person. Livestock owners and managers register on the FMD Reporting System and apply for approval to administer FMD vaccines.
- Give notice of intention to vaccinate. Once approved, they notify the Provincial Director of Veterinary Services or their local State Veterinarian at least five days before vaccinating, after which they can procure vaccines directly from their authorised veterinarian.
- Submit a vaccination report. Within 14 days of vaccinating, authorised persons file a feedback report covering the animals vaccinated, the vaccine used and the farm location.
Farmers can also use approved third-party digital platforms — including those operated by Red Meat Industry Services, the Southern African Agri Initiative and Buffalo Analytics — to complete notification and reporting, with all information flowing back to the department’s system.
A Road Back to FMD-Free Status
The data gathered through the reporting system will let government track the vaccination programme’s progress in real time — and it serves a bigger prize.
“It will also enable us to efficiently provide up-to-date information on the success of South Africa’s vaccination programme to the World Organisation for Animal Health when we are in a position to apply for FMD-free status with vaccination once again,” the Minister said.
Regaining that status would be a major win for South African agriculture and its export markets.
Nobody Left Behind
While farmers joining the voluntary programme will cover the cost of vaccines for their own herds, government will continue to provide vaccines in areas where new outbreaks are detected — and to farmers who cannot afford them. Organised agriculture bodies have been encouraged to coordinate vaccine orders on behalf of their members so importers and veterinarians can plan supply across the country.
Aucamp paid tribute to the people who made the launch possible: “I want to thank all farmers, organised agriculture organisations as well as the Department of Agriculture officials, who have worked tirelessly to get these systems up and running.”
It is a fine example of what happens when technology, government and the farming community pull in the same direction, according to SAnews.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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