Strong momentum for the FMD Support Fund and Coordination Centre

In November 2025, the Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO) took the initiative to establish an FMD Support Fund and Coordination Centre in response to the increasing risk of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). Within a short time, this initiative received broad support across the entire livestock value chain.

The four agricultural unions, namely the NAU, NECFU, NNFU and PDNFU, private-sector stakeholders, as well as the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN) and the Government, all came together around a common goal: to strengthen national preparedness and response capacity against the threat posed by FMD.

This joint effort reached an important milestone on Thursday, 26 February 2026, when the Minister of Agriculture, Honourable Inge Zaamwani, officially launched the FMD Support Fund. The speed with which the initiative progressed from concept to formal launch reflects both the seriousness of the threat and the strong cooperation between industry and Government.

The Fund provides the private sector with a credible and organized channel to support the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) with rapid, coordinated responses and access to funding, main aiming to prevent the spread of FMD into Namibia, but also to be prepared in the event of an outbreak.

The Fund has already received donation pledges of more than N$12 million, demonstrating the level of commitment within the sector to protect Namibia’s livestock industry and export markets. The goal is to raise N$50 million to support these prevention and preparedness actions. A representative steering committee, including the NAU and LPO, will manage these funds transparently, and the Fund will be independently audited annually.

The Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) and the LPO provides a significant financial contribution to this Fund in the form of the project coordinator, other support staff and technical expertise to drive coordination, preparedness and communication, as well as to administer the Fund. The Fund operates as part of a practical and structured response framework, not merely as a financial instrument.

The Minister also announced the Government’s FMD task team. The NLU is represented on the task team by Jako van Wyk, Chairperson of the LPO, while Dr. Ingrid Henckert-Weissnar serves in her capacity linked to the FMD Support Fund. This structure ensures direct input from the industry and alignment with government action.

Prevention, early detection and disciplined biosecurity remain essential to protecting Namibia’s FMD-free status. The establishment of the Fund and task team demonstrates what can be achieved when the sector acts united and purposefully.