N$11 million in 10 minutes for FMD protection

Government and the private sector have launched a national Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) Task Force along with the National FMD Task Force Support Fund. The initiative aims to protect Namibia’s status as an FMD-free zone without vaccination. During a pledging session in Windhoek, companies committed N$11 million within just ten minutes, including N$3 million in kind from the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) and contributions from the banking and agricultural sectors. According to agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani, Cabinet has approved N$57.5 million for immediate measures, while long-term protection of the sector will require an estimated N$1.5 billion. The Task Force, made up of experts from the ministry, UNAM and industry associations, will act as the first line of defence by strengthening border surveillance and veterinary fencing and coordinate with the meat industry to safeguard the N$15-billion livestock sector and the exports that indirectly support about 70% of the population.