The registration of the vaccine, called Blu-Vax G4534, has been welcomed by the Red Meat Producers Organisation (RPO).

The organisation’s James Faber said it would have been extremely difficult for the country’s small-stock farmers to continue production without the vaccine. This is because the vaccine shortage at Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) continues hurting livestock producers.

He added that some producers had lost as much as 70% of their flocks and that the announcement by Design Biologix came as a major relief for some producers.

Another news story looks at Parliament seeking comment on the preservation and development of the Agricultural Land Bill, which is aimed at protecting agricultural land against non-agricultural uses and fragmentation and thereby encouraging the optimal use of agricultural land to provide for food security.

The bill contains the principles of agri-ecosystem management, productivity, stability, resilience and equitability and will apply to all in the country, including state and communal land.

Ryan added that this is not the case with the current legislation. The bill authorises the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to establish evaluation and classification systems to appraise and delineate agricultural land and areas. It also sets the national guidelines and criteria for compiling and preparing provincial agriculture sector plans.

OFM News