The outbreak of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Rodrigues is under control according to the Commissioner of Agriculture Richard Payendee. However, the zoning system remains. The Commissioner indicates that as at date, 23 000 animals have had their first dose of vaccination. Out of which cows, goats and sheeps. As regards the vaccin for pigs, it will arrive in Rodrigues shortly.
« I have been in communication with the Agence Francaise de Developpement’ (AFD) recently and we will get another vaccin for pigs, as the vaccin for cows does not apply for pigs » explained Richard Payendee. He also said that the subsidy on the sale of fresh meat on local market has been removed because some irregularities in this process had been observed. This measure of ‘50 % Meat Subsidy’ was put in place during the month of March in view to alleviate the economic burden of farmers, as an embargo is actually in force regarding exportation of animals and no animals from Rodrigues could be exported to Mauritius due the outbreak of FMD in Rodrigues. And from 21st April to the 5th of June, some 1,090 healthy animals were slaughtered and sold on the local market at a reasonable fixed price, to the delight of consumers and farmers. The ‘Farmers’ Support Scheme’, as well as the ‘Alternative Livelihood Scheme’ were also put in place for breeders, according to well-defined criterias. Under the ‘Alternative Livelihood Scheme’, all livestock traders who were operating during the period 2016 – 2020, have been given the opportunity to provide their services against payment to the Commission for Agriculture as ‘Animal Handlers’ for the vaccination campaign against FMD. Under this scheme, farmers are also working against remuneration in the rehabilitation of 43 hectares of land at Mont Cali sylvo pastoral area. This activity will soon be extended to other sites, namely at Mt Croupier, St Gabriel and Grenade.
To note that according to official records, some 6 000 farmers are involved in the livestock sector in Rodrigues and about 35 000 cloven hoof animals are being reared. They contibute massively in the socio-economic development of the island. Therefore, the dramatic impact of the FMD outbreak as from the month of March 2021 on the farming community of Rodrigues is quite considerable. The burden is exacerbated and lengthened by the fact that more than 90 % of ruminant animals produced in Rodrigues (approx. 7 000 heads annually) are exported on foot to the main island Mauritius. Which is no more the case due to the outbreak of FMD. All farmers and breeders in Rodrigues are waiting for the embargo to be removed, as the local market cannot absorb all the cattle production in Rodrigues, since all the hotels and tourist establishment are not operating due to the ‘COVID-19’ pandemic.
