English
An attempt by South Africa to build a new foot and mouth disease (FMD) facility, reached a roadblock as it finds itself in a R400m shortfall and a five year construction delay.
Agricultural Research Council (ARC) CEO Dr Shadrack Moephuli said that the construction of the new facility was due to be completed in 2015/2016 and that the financial constraints have had a negative impact on the project.
“The latest estimated date of completion is 2019/2020, should the ARC be successful in sourcing the additional funding required to complete the project,” he said.
FMD is an infectious and sometimes fatal disease, which causes lesions on the mouth and feet of animals including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and game.
Senior manager of research for animal health and protection at the ARC,Dr Misheck Mulumba, explained that FMD was a “trade disease” and that in the case of an outbreak, trade bans are put in place from other countries and leads to severe economic losses.
In 2010, the ARC received R188m in funding from National Treasury to implement an FMD business plan.
Read the Fin24 article here.
