The recent Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak has dealt a major blow to the Keetmanshoop Agricultural Industrial and Tourism Expo (KAITE), forcing organisers to drop the livestock section at this year's Expo.

The expo is scheduled from 27 to 31 October.

Swapo Party MP Willem Amutenya questioned the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform whether farmers north of the Redline have viable value-added infrastructure to process meat, as they are now dependent on their own market due to restrictions on livestock products.

The Keetmanshoop branch of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) has appealed to all stakeholders in the agriculture value chain to fully comply with the Foot-and-Mouth  restrictions and biosecurity measures. 

The livestock section at the Windhoek Industrial and Agricultural Show, which just opened its doors, has left areas that would normally be occupied by cattle and other animals largely empty.

Business Today's Hendrina Kanyolo reports on the situation on the ground during the first day of exhibitions.

Meat traders at Opuwo are slowly rebuilding after days of losses caused by Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) restrictions that disrupted informal meat sales. 

While easing of controls has brought relief, vendors say recovery remains gradual in a trade many rely on for survival.

The Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Inge Zaamwani informed the National Assembly that the government is consulting with relevant trading partners, including Brazil and the European Union, regarding affected meat shipments.

Farmers in the Otjozondjupa Region have committed to working with the government to protect their livestock from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

The Governor of the ||Kharas Region, Dawid Gertze, has urged residents to strictly comply with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) restrictions and implement biosecurity measures.

He made the call during an emergency multisectoral regional engagement on the FMD situation held in Keetmanshoop.

Restrictions imposed following the detection of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Karasburg Veterinary District have been partially lifted, allowing certain livestock slaughter activities and the movement and trade of specified processed animal products across Namibia.

The country is confronted with Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) after being an FMD-free zone for nearly 60 years. 

Concentrated in the Karasburg farming district, the outbreak was detected at a farm in the area earlier this week.