Ministry of Agriculture lifts FMD Ban

According to a Ministry press release, this comes after a massive vaccination campaign in the affected districts.

Malawi: The Ministry of Agriculture has lifted the ban on animal movement and slaughter in all districts across the country after no new cases were reported, writes Victor Musongole.

According to a Ministry press release, this comes after a massive vaccination campaign in the affected districts.

The ministry will continue to monitor the disease, according to a press release signed by Secretary of Agriculture Dickxie Kampani on December 19.

"However, in order to prevent future outbreaks, livestock farmers are asked to report any suspected cases of FMD to the nearest Agriculture Office; the ministry will continue to monitor for any new FMD outbreaks,” reads part of the press release.

Julius Chulu, the ministry's Director of Animal Health and Livestock Development, says the disease has affected more districts this year than in previous years.

"Unlike previous years, more districts were affected by the disease this year, and adherence was a problem this year," Chulu said.

Commenting on the development Mbwenu Chirwa a farmer from Manyamula EPA in Mzimba says the ban will help farmers to buy farming equipment and other necessities.

"The ban came at a time when we expected to sell some of our animals to buy farming equipment and sort out some fees, to name a few things, but now that we have this news, we are relieved as farmers because we can finally sell some of our animals," Mbwenu stated.

Concurring with Chirwa, Genesis Phiri, a butcher working at Mzimba boma, believes that lifting the ban will help revitalise the district.

"The ban affected our lives because we were not able to buy and sell animals; we have been forced to use our capital but the lift will revive our lives," Phiri said.

Foot and Mouth disease was first identified in Mchinji before spreading to Lilongwe, Lower Shire, and Mzimba, to name a few locations.