Livestock sector counts losses as state vaccine maker OBP dithers iol.co.za - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from iol.co.za Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The threat of deadly animal diseases is raising concerns within the agricultural sector as state-run Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), SA’s largest animal vaccine producer, is struggling to meet demand. Large parts of the country’s livestock-producing regions, including the Eastern Cape, have recorded good rains and high temperatures in recent months, creating the perfect storm for parasites and diseases to spread among small and large livestock.
Government institutions are weak and have failed to help black farmers as they should, and it is not the fault of organised agriculture, says Wandile Sihlobo.
Government cannot rely on outsourcing the transformation and development of the agricultural sector to farmer associations and allow public institutions to deteriorate further, says Sifiso Ntombela.