Staff Reporter
NAMIBIA’S livestock industry has launched a private sector-driven Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) Support Fund to strengthen prevention and emergency response measures and safeguard the country’s N$15 billion agricultural economy against potential outbreaks.
The initiative announced comes amid growing regional concern following confirmed foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) cases in South Africa’s Northern Cape and in Botswana’s FMD-free zone.
Industry leaders warn that a single confirmed FMD case within Namibia’s FMD-free zone would trigger an immediate shutdown of all livestock and meat exports in line with national contingency plans. Such a development could cause severe economic disruption across the value chain, affecting farmers, processors, transporters, traders and rural communities.
Government has indicated that approximately N$1.5 billion is required to adequately protect the livestock sector from the threat of FMD.
The FMD Support Fund is spearheaded by four national farmers’ unions: the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), the Namibia National Farmers’ Union (NNFU), the Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers’ Union (NECFU) and the Previously Disadvantaged Namibian Commercial Farmers’ Union (PDNCU).
The fund is designed as a structured support mechanism to enhance the prevention and response capacity of the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) and the Livestock and Livestock Producers Board of Namibia (LLPBN). It serves as a bridge between the private sector and government veterinary authorities to enable coordinated action, mobilise funding and improve information sharing.
Key focus areas of the fund include financing prevention and response activities to support veterinary authorities in disease control efforts; supporting awareness campaigns, education and risk mitigation initiatives; strengthening emergency preparedness through contingency planning and early containment support; and coordinating risk communication between authorities and industry stakeholders.
The initiative operates under a transparent governance framework, with a clear separation between technical leadership and financial support. The DVS and LLPBN remain responsible for technical decisions and outbreak management, while the fund provides financial and operational backing where required. Oversight is provided by an independent steering committee, supported by dedicated reporting processes and independent auditing.
To bolster national preparedness, the fund is seeking to raise a combined N$50 million in private sector contributions through corporate sponsorships, partnerships and in-kind support such as logistics, technology and equipment.
Industry leaders say the coordinated effort represents a proactive step towards protecting Namibia’s livestock sector, preserving export markets and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the agricultural economy.
For more information or to get involved, interested parties can contact Dr Ingrid Henckert-Weissnar at info@fmdsupportfund.com or livestock@nau.com.na, or visit www.fmdsupportfund.com.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: fmdsupportfund.com
