Plan in place to move red line further north, Schlettwein says
Ensure farmers benefit from access to profitable markets
Vaccinations against foot-and-mouth disease continue in the northern communal areas, where more than 80 percent of cattle have been vaccinated.
Agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein has announced plans to move the veterinary cordon fence, known as the red line, further north.
“We have a disease-free zone and a zone that is not disease-free, but our ambition is to make that zone disease-free as soon as possible,” the minister said.
“We have begun the process of taking the next step to move a portion of the veterinary fence further north—not exactly to the border between Namibia and Angola, but to include areas that have been disease-free for several years,” Schlettwein said during the official opening of the Aminuis Agricultural Show, referring to foot-and-mouth disease.
“With this, we foresee that all farmers in those areas will benefit from access to these lucrative markets," he said.
Schlettwein added: “Furthermore, farmers in the infected zones will still benefit from market access through existing commodity-based trade and equal pricing for their products, thanks to the development of the price equalisation fund supported by the government.”
Vaccination campaign
Schlettwein confirmed that the ministry has so far invested more than N$800 000 in vaccines and equipment for their vaccination campaign against lumpy skin disease, which recently broke out.
Vaccinations against foot-and-mouth disease continue in the northern communal areas, where more than 80 percent of cattle have been vaccinated, he said.
Schlettwein referred to Namibia as the only country in Africa that has managed to secure market access not only to the EU but also to China, the United States of America (USA), the Arab nations and Africa.
Schlettwein believes that this multiple market access is possible due to the functional veterinary system that protects animals from diseases.
Drought modalities
Schlettwein also discussed how his ministry developed and finalised the modalities for the livestock marketing incentive as well as for livestock feed and seed subsidies during the drought.
Seed and fertiliser will be sold at subsidised prices in line with the modalities of the 2024–25 dryland production programme.
“A total of N$25 million has been allocated for the procurement of seed and fertiliser, with an additional N$25 million for the procurement of feed.”
Seed subsidy
The minister said the regions were consulted to address their needs for the 2024–25 rainy season.
“The regions require a total of 348 metric tonnes of mahangu, 59 metric tonnes of sorghum, 73.7 metric tonnes of black-eyed beans, 121 metric tonnes of maize, and three metric tonnes of pasture seed.”
Schlettwein said the ministry has 13.5 metric tonnes of mahangu and five metric tonnes of maize stocked at the Mahenene Research Station and estimates producing 50 metric tonnes of mahangu seed for the 2024–25 rainy season.
“The shortage of 284.5 metric tonnes of mahangu, 59 metric tonnes of sorghum, 73.7 metric tonnes of black-eyed beans, 116 metric tonnes of maize, and three metric tonnes of pasture seed needs to be procured.”
A total of N$20 million has been allocated for the seed subsidy under the 2024–25 drought measures.
Feed subsidy
The ministry has also procured 52 500 bales of lucerne, 37 000 bales of hay (grass, crop residues), 980 bags of molasses meal, and 52 500 bags of salt licks in line with the drought measures, Schlettwein said.
“The implementation plan, in response to requests received from regional councils, involves delivering most of these supplies to various agricultural development centers. A total of N$15 million has been allocated to apply the feed subsidy.”
He said the funds will be disbursed based on regional demand, and subsidies will be administered by regional councils.
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“We have a disease-free zone and a zone that is not disease-free, but our ambition is to make that zone disease-free as soon as possible,” the minister said.
“We have begun the process of taking the next step to move a portion of the veterinary fence further north—not exactly to the border between Namibia and Angola, but to include areas that have been disease-free for several years,” Schlettwein said during the official opening of the Aminuis Agricultural Show, referring to foot-and-mouth disease.
“With this, we foresee that all farmers in those areas will benefit from access to these lucrative markets," he said.
Schlettwein added: “Furthermore, farmers in the infected zones will still benefit from market access through existing commodity-based trade and equal pricing for their products, thanks to the development of the price equalisation fund supported by the government.”
Vaccination campaign
Schlettwein confirmed that the ministry has so far invested more than N$800 000 in vaccines and equipment for their vaccination campaign against lumpy skin disease, which recently broke out.
Vaccinations against foot-and-mouth disease continue in the northern communal areas, where more than 80 percent of cattle have been vaccinated, he said.
Schlettwein referred to Namibia as the only country in Africa that has managed to secure market access not only to the EU but also to China, the United States of America (USA), the Arab nations and Africa.
Schlettwein believes that this multiple market access is possible due to the functional veterinary system that protects animals from diseases.
Drought modalities
Schlettwein also discussed how his ministry developed and finalised the modalities for the livestock marketing incentive as well as for livestock feed and seed subsidies during the drought.
Seed and fertiliser will be sold at subsidised prices in line with the modalities of the 2024–25 dryland production programme.
“A total of N$25 million has been allocated for the procurement of seed and fertiliser, with an additional N$25 million for the procurement of feed.”
Seed subsidy
The minister said the regions were consulted to address their needs for the 2024–25 rainy season.
“The regions require a total of 348 metric tonnes of mahangu, 59 metric tonnes of sorghum, 73.7 metric tonnes of black-eyed beans, 121 metric tonnes of maize, and three metric tonnes of pasture seed.”
Schlettwein said the ministry has 13.5 metric tonnes of mahangu and five metric tonnes of maize stocked at the Mahenene Research Station and estimates producing 50 metric tonnes of mahangu seed for the 2024–25 rainy season.
“The shortage of 284.5 metric tonnes of mahangu, 59 metric tonnes of sorghum, 73.7 metric tonnes of black-eyed beans, 116 metric tonnes of maize, and three metric tonnes of pasture seed needs to be procured.”
A total of N$20 million has been allocated for the seed subsidy under the 2024–25 drought measures.
Feed subsidy
The ministry has also procured 52 500 bales of lucerne, 37 000 bales of hay (grass, crop residues), 980 bags of molasses meal, and 52 500 bags of salt licks in line with the drought measures, Schlettwein said.
“The implementation plan, in response to requests received from regional councils, involves delivering most of these supplies to various agricultural development centers. A total of N$15 million has been allocated to apply the feed subsidy.”
He said the funds will be disbursed based on regional demand, and subsidies will be administered by regional councils.
- [email protected]
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