Fiji live Cattle import queried, Ministry defends claims
CLAIMS have surfaced from concerned cattle farmers in the country over the proposed live cattle import from Fiji, in fear of the deadly Brucellosis Disease.
Brucellosis Disease is a bacterial disease found in the reproductive tracts of animals which can also be transferred to humans.
It causes infertility and miscarriage to infected animals and the same signs and symptoms affect humans contracting the disease through handling of infected animal.
The farmers told the Solomon Star last week that the planned cattle import from Fiji is expected to boost cattle farming in the country, but it can be costly and a total disaster for the Solomon Islands cattle industry.
“Whilst we fully support the import proposal, the repercussions for disease carried by infected cattle coming into our country could prove a very costly mistake.
“It may also totally damage our reputation as a cattle disease free country, a serious risk to human health, and not to mention any hope of reviving the cattle industry would be totally destroyed,” they stated.
Its understood that Fiji’s cattle industry has been struggling over the years to tackle a re-emergence of the deadly Brucellosis Disease.
The most recent outbreak in Fiji was as recent as 2013.
“The incidents of re-emergence in Fiji of the disease are becoming more frequent.
“The most prominent risk to this disease is that it is not easily detected until most female cattle are well into pregnancy, hence a serious risk if we intend to import,” the farmers added.
The farmers where most of whom from the provinces said, there are also a fresh outbreak of cattle Tuberculosis (TB) in Fiji, which could devastate the country’s cattle industry.
“Fiji is perhaps a leader in farm animal Disease Surveillance and Monitoring in the Pacific, including hosting most; if not all regional agencies that deal with animal disease surveillance and monitoring, and yet they are finding the control and eradication of these cattle diseases an on-going challenge.”
Having seen the incapability of the government to control the spread of the Giant African Snail (GAF) and the rhinoceros beetle, they do not believe that Solomon Islands Government has the quarantine technical capacities at this point in time to properly assess and declare actual status of animals entering our country as disease free.
“Solomon Islands would never stand a chance of controlling any outbreak; we can just look at the devastation that the giant snail and the rhinoceros beetle have been causing in this country.
“To show us all the warning signs, we need to seriously think about importing cattle from a disease free country,” they said.
However in clarifying the queries, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) said, this is not the first time that the country has battled against the deadly disease.
“It is not entirely true that the country is cattle disease- free since cattle was introduced here in the early 1900s.
“In the 1980s an outbreak of Brucellosis Disease occurred in the country but was effectively eradicated. Some workers who were involved in the eradication then are still alive today.
“Yes, this shows that we can eradicate such cattle diseases if and when they occur,” Mr Jimi Saelea said.
He said, one need to know that to ensure no livestock disease has the chance to enter the country, it is clearly stated in the Import Protocol (IP) that a pre-import period (quarantine) of six months where health tests are carried out by the exporting country is done.
“Once these are cleared of all known diseases, the animals can then be exported, or in our case imported.
“On arrival, the animals will be held for up to six months for post import health tests where the health status of the animals is finally confirmed,” the PS told the Solomon Star, last week.
Mr Saelea explained that for the proposed import, normal arrangements under the Buyer and Seller Agreement have been facilitated under normal SIG procurement procedures.
Meanwhile, he said he do sympathise with these farmers with their doom and gloom view of their future.
“They need to have positive views for the future of the livestock industry in Solomon Islands, and contribute positively towards progressing the industry.
“Only then will we realise the full potential of what we can do for our country,” Mr Saelea added.
By RONALD TOITO’ONA
