Staff Reporter
THE FMD Support Fund has mobilised more than N$1.5 million worth of biosecurity products, surveillance kits and camping equipment to support 30 Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) teams responding to the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in the //Kharas Region.
The supplies were provided by industry partners Agra, CYMOT, Agrimark and SWAVET in response to an urgent need for equipment as DVS teams conduct surveillance and testing in remote areas.
The FMD Support Fund said the assistance has enabled the mobilised teams to continue their fieldwork while maintaining the strict biosecurity measures required during the outbreak response.
The Fund also commended the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform (MAFWLR) and DVS officials for their efforts in managing the outbreak, saying the veterinary teams’ work under demanding field conditions remained central to protecting Namibia’s livestock sector.
The Fund said it remains committed to supporting DVS throughout the response, in cooperation with the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN), organised agriculture and private-sector partners.
The emergency assistance builds on financial contributions from the country’s four national farmers’ unions, corporate sponsors, farmers, organisations and individuals since the Fund was established.
The FMD Support Fund initiative was conceptualised in November 2025 amid growing concern over the increasing number of FMD outbreaks in southern Africa and the potential threat to Namibia’s livestock industry.
It brought together the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers Union (NECFU), Namibia National Farmers Union (NNFU) and Previously Disadvantaged Namibian Farmers Union (PDNFU), together with private-sector stakeholders, LLPBN, DVS and Government.
The Fund was officially launched on 26 February 2026 by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi.
It was established as a private-sector support mechanism to strengthen Namibia’s preparedness and response capacity against FMD and to complement, rather than replace, the mandate and work of DVS and LLPBN.
On 28 July 2026, the Fund was formally incorporated with the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) as a Section 21 company not for gain.
It is governed by an independent board comprising representatives of the farmers’ unions and industry experts, with governance measures including transparency and external auditing.
Approximately N$11 million was pledged at its launch, with the Fund setting an initial target of N$50 million for awareness, prevention, preparedness and rapid-response interventions.
The Fund said the confirmation of FMD in //Kharas has now shifted its focus from preparedness to active response.
It said the rapid mobilisation of private-sector assistance demonstrated the purpose of establishing a coordinated industry mechanism before an outbreak occurred.
The Fund emphasised that DVS remains Namibia’s competent veterinary authority under MAFWLR and is responsible for leading the technical and regulatory response to FMD, while the Fund provides a mechanism for the private sector and agricultural industry to mobilise resources and coordinate support alongside DVS and other relevant authorities.
The Fund’s financial sponsors include Bank Windhoek, FirstRand Foundation, Feedmaster, Namib Mills, DAS Group, Santam, Namibia Wildlife Ranches and Sinclair Services, with several also providing in-kind support.
The Fund said it also appreciates contributions from individual donors and other organisations, farmers and industry bodies that supported the initiative before the current outbreak.
Private-sector organisations, development partners and individuals wishing to support the DVS FMD prevention, awareness and response plan can contact the FMD Support Fund at info@fmdsupportfund.com or visit www.fmdsupportfund.com.
The Fund said its fundraising target to contribute to immediate needs is more than N$50 million.
PICTURED: Supplies mobilised through the FMD Support Fund which arrived in Karasburg. Photo: FMD Support Fund
