FAO Food Price Index declines in December
The benchmark measure of world food commodity prices ended 2023 approximately 10% lower than its year-earlier level.
Outbreaks of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) have decreased by two-thirds between 2015 and 2019, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
FAO say this is raising hopes for meeting the goal of global eradication by 2030.
Just over 1,200 global PPR outbreaks were recorded in 2019 compared to more than 3,500 in 2015.
FAO attribute this decrease to the impact of vaccination campaigns in more than 50 countries. The campaigns were led and funded by countries with support from FAO and its partners.
In just 12 of these countries, over 300 million goats and sheep were vaccinated between 2015 and 2018.
PPR has spread at an alarming rate, with more than 70 countries reporting outbreaks of the disease since it was discovered in Côte d’Ivoire in the 1940s.
At its worst, the disease threatens to infect up to 80% of the world’s 2.5 billion small ruminants if not controlling, putting pressure on rural families who rely on sheep and goat for food and income.
“Eradicating the disease is possible and essential,” says Maria Helena Semedo, FAO deputy director-general.
“A world free of PPR will also mean more security and empowerment for rural women as they are often responsible for looking after livestock,” Semedo says.
As of May 2020, 58 countries were declared free of PPR. Russia and Lesotho were the most recent nations added to the list.
A further 21 countries, which have had no cases for five consecutive years, can prepare their documentation for validation by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) for a PPR-free status.
“Whilst PPR outbreaks have decreased significantly in recent years, the infection scope of the PPR virus, both geographical and host range, is still wide and more needs to be done to fight the disease,” says FAO PPR programme coordinator and veterinarian Felix Njeumi.
Shortage of vaccines, livestock movement, and logistical challenges in carrying out vaccinations continue to remain the main obstacles for PPR prevention and control.
Animal rights organization, SAFE says the government needs to maintain the ban on live exports.
New findings from not-for-profit food supply and distribution organization, the New Zealand Food Network (NZFN) have revealed a 42% increase in demand for food support in 2023 compared to 2022.
New data released by LIC and DairyNZ shows New Zealand dairy farmers have achieved the highest six week in-calf rate and lowest notin- calf rate on record.
Christchurch City Council and the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association (CAPA) have signed an agreement which will open more of Canterbury Agricultural Park for public use while helping to provide long-term certainty for the A&P Show.
This year’s Fieldays will feature a Rural Advocacy Hub - bringing together various rural organisations who are advocating for farmers and championing their interests as one team, under one roof, for the first time.
ASB head of rural banking Aidan Gent is encouraging farmers to speak to their banks when they are struggling.
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