Farmers urged to tighten biosecurity amid border disease threat

Staff Reporter THE Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO) has urged farmers across Namibia to strengthen biosecurity measures and strictly comply with animal health regulations as the threat of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) continues to pose a serious risk to the country’s livestock sector and export markets. In a message addressed to producers, LPO chairperson Jako van Wyk warned that the disease remains a real and immediate threat at Namibia’s borders, emphasising that the country’s ability to maintain access to key international markets depends on the actions taken by farmers on a daily basis. Van Wyk said that while many countries have lost access to lucrative export markets due to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, Namibia has managed to retain its status through years of disciplined farming practices and adherence to strict animal health standards.