Bird flu kills off ostrich industry
The ostrich industry around Oudtshoorn is under threat due to
bird flu
Up to 50 000 ostrich farmers face a black Christmas as
bird flu threatens to wipe out the Cape’s R800 million industry.
The Karoo is the ostrich capital of the world.
But it is now on the verge of collapse after a
devastating outbreak of H5N2, or avian influenza.
Up until now, farmworkers have been surviving on UIF
benefits.
However, they had their final payment last month and are
now facing ruin.
Ragel Arries,38, is one of the 39 laid off in June this
year at Highgate Ostrich Show Farm.
A devastated Ragel now says she has no idea where her
next meal will come from.
“Please Lord, put food on our tables this Christmas and
don’t let the farms close down permanently,” she tells the Daily Voice.
“I received my last UIF benefit payment last month and
that was my only income since June.
“I don’t have any money to buy anything for Christmas.
“I’ve been working for 14 years at Highgate and this is
going to be the first Christmas without food on the table.
“I don’t even know how to tell my two kids that they
won’t be getting presents this year.”
The avian crisis hit the Karoo region around Oudtshoorn
in April this year.
It led to the culling of 38 000 ostriches and staggering
losses in the region of R800 million in revenue to the industry.
In terms of the international law on farms testing
positive for the virus, the industry was required to slaughter the infected
birds.
The region was placed under strict quarantine and an
immediate ban was imposed by the European Union (EU) on the export of ostrich
meat from SA.
This ban affected 40 farms in the Klein Karoo.
Since June, thousands of farmworkers have been laid off.
Highgate is one the oldest Ostrich show farms in
Oudtshoorn and one of the biggest local tourist attractions.
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