The Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARDEA) has provided relief to commonage farmers in Botshabelo who have been affected by the ongoing outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD).
Recognising the impact of the disease on livestock farming, the department partnered with stakeholders including ITAU, Hinterland, Kloppers and AgriVet to provide much-needed support to affected farmers.
Ten commonage farming groups in Botshabelo received animal feed, nutritional supplements, protective clothing, foot baths, farm disinfectant and knapsack sprayers to help strengthen biosecurity measures and support livestock health.
The intervention forms part of ongoing efforts to assist farmers in managing the effects of FMD while helping to reduce the spread of the disease and protect livestock in affected areas.
The support comes as the Free State continues to battle one of the country’s worst FMD outbreaks, with the province recording 620 confirmed cases as of mid-June, according to the Free State Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs.
Compiled by Gypseenia Lion
