Latest news with #RMIS
The Hindu
4 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
7th Minor Irrigation Census to begin in Dharmapuri in June
The 7th Minor irrigation Census is scheduled to begin in June under the Rationalisation of Minor Irrigation Scheme (RMIS). Earlier, a training workshop for village administrative officers (VAO) for village panchayats, and local body administration officials of town panchayats and municipalities was chaired by Collector R. Sadheesh. The Minor irrigation Census proposes to cover irrigation sources that irrigate less than 2,000 ha of land that include water sources on farm lands that sustain agriculture. The Census enumerates water sources individually or jointly owned by farmers that include farm wells, borewells, the source of funding for creation of those wells; any subsidy grants availed, the extent of land irrigated by the water source, the HP of the motor for pumping of the water will be among the data collated by the enumerators during the census. The objective is to create a sound and reliable data base on minor irrigation systems including water bodies that will help in the estimation of available ground water and in the formulation of realistic water resource development and management, according to the administration. The Minor irrigation Statistics scheme is Centrally sponsored scheme under the Ministry of Jal Shakthi. The 7th Minor Irrigation Census will use 2023-24 as the base year. The district level committee for the minor irrigation statistics will be headed by the District Collector, along with the District Revenue Officer as the nodal officer; Deputy Director of Statistics as the coordinator and Tahsildars as the block level statistics officers and members.
IOL News
11-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Government ramps up vaccine efforts to combat foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in KZN
Minister of Agriculture John Steehuisen said that the Government will be increasing vaccines to address the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) in KZN Image: Pexels Minister of Agriculture John Steehuisen on Monday announced a significant increase in vaccine supplies in KwaZulu-Natal in a bid to combat the ongoing outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). This announcement comes in the wake of urgent calls from livestock commodity groups united under the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) for the province to be declared a disaster area due to the severe implications of FMD on local livelihoods. During his address at the TMR Conference hosted by the Milk Producers Organisation on Monday, Steehuisen FMD has severely impacted the red meat industry since the outbreaks in 2019. 'It has closed doors to critical markets. It disrupted supply chains. And it sent shockwaves through producer confidence. We have learned some hard lessons. We cannot achieve prosperity through exports without credible, science-based, and trusted disease control systems,' he said. Steenhuisen added that the department was working closely with industry through joint command structures to improve surveillance and rapid response. 'But we know this is not enough. We need a sustainable, nationally coordinated FMD vaccination programme that meets the standards of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH); upgraded veterinary infrastructure, and strong biosecurity protocols, not only at our borders but at farm level, transport corridors, and auction sites.' 'South Africa must adopt a system that meets international traceability requirements - digital, decentralised, and inclusive We are prioritising the finalisation of the National Traceability Framework, and we will continue to support farmer compliance through targeted technical support.' Steehuisen said the department has ordered vaccines to cover the KZN area, while assessment, as well as forward and backward tracing of the outbreak in Gauteng is ongoing. 'These plans are not only about responding to outbreaks, but it's also about building permanent infrastructure to manage future risks.' The Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) said it has implemented Phase 1 of its coordinated response to the ongoing Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. 'Located at RMIS headquarters in Pretoria, the Operational Centre is being developed in a phased approach to ensure rapid implementation, relevance, and operational efficiency,' it said. 'To ensure immediate functionality, Phase 1 focuses on establishing the core operational capabilities of the OC. This phase lays the groundwork for effective coordination and control, with the following key components.' RMIS added that they were utilising a national network of 177 Ruminant Private Veterinarians conducting daily surveillance of FMD. It said that suspected FMD cases reported by the private veterinarians were mapped in real time on the RMIS Platform, which was specifically developed for this purpose. 'Each case's status is continuously updated and displayed on the platform, providing a national bird's-eye view of the outbreak. This visual overview supports effective disease management and decision-making within the Operational Centre.' RMIS added that the FMD contingency plan outlined a clear step-by-step process to be followed once a suspected case is identified by a veterinarian. 'The Operational Centre will support the coordination of this process, facilitating communication and action between the farmer, private veterinarian, state veterinarian, laboratory, and the Department of Animal Health, to ensure accurate execution within the recommended timeframe.' RMIS said that updates on case status and outbreak mapping will be communicated directly to veterinarians through the RMIS Platform via WhatsApp, ensuring fast, accurate, and streamlined information delivery. 'In Phase 2, RMIS plans to introduce a public reporting channel for suspected animal movements in collaboration with various organised agricultural organisations. This will be followed by Phase 3, which will see the integration of an electronic risk assessment and movement permit system into the RMIS platform also through collaboration with various organised agricultural organisations.' BUSINESS REPORT
The Citizen
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Steenhuisen unpacks department's foot-and-mouth disease interventions
The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has undertaken to answer several questions which have been raised about the occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. The Ministry of Agriculture has received media enquiries about meat safety and interventions from the department to contain existing outbreaks and prevent future outbreaks. FMD is a highly contagious viral infection that impacts cloven-hoofed animals and it can affect some other species. In recent months, outbreaks have occurred in five of the nine provinces in South Africa, with KwaZulu-Natal experiencing the most significant impact. 'We would like to put the facts on the table and ask all citizens to make it their business to obtain knowledge about how to mitigate the spread of this disease. After all, biosecurity is everyone's responsibility,' Steenhuisen emphasised. What is the current intervention by the Department of Agriculture? All infected properties are placed under quarantine; no movement is allowed into, out of, or through these areas or farms. Large areas, where individuals cannot be served with quarantine notices, are declared Disease Management Areas, and the same restrictions apply. They are further vaccinated and marked as vaccinated (with an 'F Brand' on the neck). How many vaccines were bought and at what cost? The department has ordered 901 200 doses of vaccines at a value of over R70 million. This means that over 900 000 animals will be vaccinated in all areas that the department has prioritised. Limpopo and Mpumalanga will also be conducting their routine vaccinations, which are conducted three times a year. Some of the vaccines will go to Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. When and where will vaccination start? Multiple teams will vaccinate areas simultaneously and will not start at a specific place. Vaccination will start as soon as the vaccines are received and cleared. It is anticipated that the department will take receipt of the vaccines late this week and will then start vaccinating in the following week. Should South Africans worry about meat shortages? There is no concern for shortages; despite some feedlots being affected, there are several feedlots that are slaughtering that are not affected. Secondly, FMD does not kill animals, so there is not going to be mass mortalities which will result in fewer animals and therefore a shortage of meat. Is it safe to eat meat infected with FMD? FMD does not affect people, it only affects cloven-hoofed animals, so consumers do not have to be concerned. What has been the response to an outbreak at Karan Beef: The Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) will activate a centralised operational centre at its headquarters on Monday, 9 June 2025. The centre will be led by a designated RMIS veterinarian and will oversee a team of 13 veterinary professionals, along with a specialist public relations and public affairs agency, forming the FMD Working Group. The FMD Working Group will be mandated to develop and implement a structured, time-bound response to the outbreak, with medium-to long-term goals, including a focus on vaccination among other key areas. – At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Centralised operational centre to deal with the FMD crisis set up
Farmers have welcomed the establishment of the centralised operational centre aimed at addressing the FDM crisis. farmers have welcomed the establishment of the centralised operational centre aimed at addressing the FDM crisis. Picture: CatherineAs foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) continues to ravage the agricultural sector, farmers have welcomed the establishment of the centralised operational centre aimed at addressing the crisis. The centre will be activated today by Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) in response to the widespread of FMD outbreak which is threatening food security and jobs in the country. ALSO READ: Will SA run out of beef and chicken? Animal disease hits SA's top producer — what it means for consumers A plan to address FMD RMIS is a not-for-profit organisation mandated to safeguard animal and public health, expand market access, foster inclusive growth, and ensure long-term industry competitiveness. Dewald Olivier, CEO of RMIS, said the plan was to guide the organisation in addressing the FMD situation in South Africa, with a strong focus on protecting red meat role-players to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the industry. Olivier said a designated RMIS veterinarian would lead the centre and also oversee a team of veterinary professionals and industry representatives, along with a specialist public relations and public affairs agency, forming the FMD working group. 'The FMD working group will be mandated to develop and implement a structured, timebound response to the outbreak, with medium- to long-term goals, including a focus on vaccination among other key areas,' he said. 'This is critical not only for the red meat sector, but also for South Africa's broader agricultural economy, as the outbreak impacts the entire red meat value chain and poses a threat to the dairy industry and other sectors connected to red meat production.' Olivier said another key aim was to establish public-private partnerships at various levels to support the understaffed public veterinary sector by leveraging private sector expertise and capacity. 'This is a defining moment for the red meat industry. RMIS was established precisely for a time like this – to provide coordinated leadership, technical expertise and practical solutions in close collaboration with government and industry partners. Our unified efforts will shape a more secure, sustainable, and competitive future for the industry,' he said. ALSO READ: R72m foot-and-mouth vaccine delivery due mid-June A partnership to fight FMD Frikkie Mare, CEO of Red Meat Producers Organisation as one of the founding members of the RMIS, agreed with the establishment of the centre. Mare said it was important to note that FMD was a state-controlled disease and the envisaged centre would not be there to take over the role of government, but rather to assist it in gathering data, proposing action plans for the control of the disease and to digitalise animal movement permits. 'We believe this is a step in the right direction for more effective control of FMD with a partnership between the government and industry,' said Mare. TAU SA general manager Bennie van Zyl has also welcomed the establishment of the centre and said fighting FMD was essential because it was also threatening dairy farmers. 'This joint operation command centre is a very good thing and we support it' said Van Zyl. 'It is important that they actually have a well-functioning mechanism that can help the government to do what needs to be done. We hope that very soon the problem will be resolved. There is a need for everyone to play a role in addressing this problem.' Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen said his department was aware that there was a great deal of anxiety around the various outbreaks of FMD in several provinces. Steenhuisen said the department was working around the clock to address the issue. 'All infected properties are placed under quarantine and no movement is allowed into, out of or through that particular area of the farm,' he said. 'Large areas where individual notices cannot be served have been gazetted as disease management areas. And, of course, the same restrictions apply.' He said the government was embarking upon a vaccination campaign and has set aside more than R70 million for FMD vaccines to inoculate about 900 000 animals. NOW READ: Foot-and-mouth disease outbreak rocks South Africa's cattle industry
IOL News
08-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Red Meat Industry Services activates Operational Centre in response to Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak
Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) said on Friday that it will activate a centralised Operational Centre (OC) at its headquarters on Monday, 9 June 2025, in response to the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak. Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) said on Friday that it will activate a centralised Operational Centre (OC) at its headquarters on Monday in response to the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak. RMIS said the OC will be led by a designated RMIS veterinarian and will oversee a team of veterinary professionals and industry representatives, along with a specialist public relations and public affairs agency, forming the FMD Working Group. 'The FMD Working Group will be mandated to develop and implement a structured, time-bound response to the outbreak, with medium- to long-term goals, including a focus on vaccination among other key areas.' The primary objective of this plan is to guide RMIS in addressing the current FMD situation in South Africa, with a strong focus on protecting red meat role players to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the industry. 'This is critical not only for the red meat sector, but also for South Africa's broader agricultural economy, as the outbreak impacts the entire red meat value chain and poses a serious threat to the dairy industry and other sectors connected to red meat production,' it said. Another key aim is to establish public-private partnerships (PPPs) at various levels to support the understaffed public veterinary sector by leveraging private sector expertise and capacity. RMIS added that the immediate responsibilities of the OC are finalising a three-month response framework to address urgent risks and establish a platform for long-term management: The medium-term plan will include two key components: Expanding and supporting the capacity of veterinary services to enhance disease control. Establishing FMD-free livestock compartments supplying all South African red meat abattoirs. RMIS said that the OC's other responsibilities would include: Coordinating with the Joint Operations Centre (JOC) to align with government and industry stakeholders. Evaluating and enhancing the Government Contingency Plan. The Department has shared its contingency plan with the industry, which the FMD Working Group will review and provide feedback. Initiating a local vaccine production strategy, which includes assessing funding requirements, establishing an implementation timeline, and developing a financing model supported by industry funding. Centralising stakeholder communication through the appointed veterinarian, who will report directly to RMIS CEO Dewald Olivier. Implementing an electronic movement permit system: A basic, structured electronic Farmer Declaration system will be developed, communicated, and enforced. Dewald Olivier, the CEO of RMIS, said this is a defining moment for the red meat industry. 'RMIS was established precisely for a time like this - to provide coordinated leadership, technical expertise, and practical solutions in close collaboration with government and industry partners. Our unified efforts today will shape a more secure, sustainable, and competitive future for the industry,' Olivier said. Last week, Business Report reported that the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) livestock farming community called on the government to declare KZN a disaster area due to the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). In a joint statement, they called on the government to formally declare FMD a disaster as KZN grapples to contain the spread. 'In 2021, affected areas in the province were declared a Disease Management Area (DMA); the latest resurgence in 2023 has spread beyond this area and necessitated the expansion of the DMA; however, the spread continues outside of these areas.' In response, Dipepeneneng Serage, Deputy Director-General: Agricultural Production, Biosecurity and Natural Resources Management at the Department of Agriculture, said while they understand the seriousness of the FMD situation in KZN and in Gauteng, they don't think declaring a state of emergency is the solution. 'We have declared/gazetted the DMA which is in itself a state of emergency for livestock and farmers. We need farmers to work with the government to adhere to biosecurity regulations. Additionally, to the DMA, we will be issuing directives regarding the movement of animals in SA. BUSINESS REPORT Visit:
