Paradigm shift needed for NCA livestock industry

ELLANIE SMIT WINDHOEKA complete paradigm shift needs to be deployed in order to improve the Northern Communal Area (NCA) livestock industry, starting from producer level through the entire value chain.This according to agriculture ministry executive director Percy Misika, who was speaking at a Livestock Support Programme inception workshop held last Friday.Misika said the workshop was aimed at interacting on the plight of livestock farmers in the NCA from a different perspective.He said farming can be a major contributor to the economic development of Namibia, provided that all agricultural value chains are fully developed to have a diversified product range.Misika said the ministry is seeking to revive the tannery industry in the country; however, sustainability of the leather industry depends on the supply of skins and hides by livestock producers.“Diversified sources of income in the livestock subsector can contribute significantly to improved food and nutrition and security both at household and national level, as well as to improved economic activity.”He said the Livestock Support Programme therefore seeks to support livestock farming as a business and aims to address and respond to climate change challenges to build resilience amongst farmers.The project further seeks to amplify fodder production efforts, establish feedlots and double the ministry’s knowledge creation in nutrition and rangeland management.“The project claims to facilitate access of NCA meat to lucrative meat export markets. It is therefore our expectation that NCA livestock producers - as intended beneficiaries - will embrace, cooperate and support the implementation of this project to make it a success.”Another objectiveMisika said access of NCA meat to the local market is another objective being pursued by government through the ministry.He stressed that the project’s activities should be supported by livestock producers so that throughput at abattoirs is increased, volume at meat processors is increased, the tannery sector can be revived and export markets can be accessed through Commodity Base Trade (CBT).With regards to CBT, Misika said they had a delegation to Ghana and Congo Brazzaville that managed to introduce Namibia as a potential source of meat exports to these West African countries.Further discussions are needed to finalise marketing contracts with meat importers and/or agents in these countries, he said.Veterinary service deliveryMisika added that the project is also trying to improve veterinary service delivery.“We know that Foot-and-Mouth disease (FMD) has put economic distress on the country and while it is a tough act to eradicate the disease, the ministry takes pride that it has always been able to contain FMD outbreaks every time they reared their ugly heads.”Capacity building in terms of diagnostic services, surveillance and traceability through epidemiological activities and rehabilitating all animal handling facilities are all activities to be implemented under this project, he said.Animal handling facilities are critical as they are used for vaccination campaigns and ear tagging, he added, but most importantly to quarantine livestock for a certain period prior to preparing them for the markets.“However, it is problematic to maintain them in good condition as they are prone to vandalism.”ellanie@namibiansun.com

Paradigm shift needed for NCA livestock industry

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-25

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Paradigm shift needed for NCA livestock industry

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-25

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