Top level abattoirs coming

The agriculture ministry embarked on several projects to ensure the development of the beef value chain in the Northern Communal Area (NCA). This aims to ensure improved marketing of livestock in the NCA and the production of value-added meat and meat products in order to compete at local, regional and international markets. This was said by the agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb during his budget motivation. !Naruseb said cattle and goats in the NCA have limited marketing channels and almost no access to lucrative markets. “Appropriate, well-situated slaughter facilities, in the form of abattoirs that conform to best practice standards, are therefore needed.”!Naruseb said during the 2017/18 financial year the Eenhana and Outapi abattoirs were upgraded and the construction of the Rundu abattoir and cold storage continued. The Zambezi Regional Council also availed land to the ministry near Bukalo to erect an abattoir, cold storage and a meat processing/cooking facility for value added products. “Project funds and administration were transferred to the Meat Board of Namibia. The land has been surveyed and the deed of sale has been signed by the ministry.”The ministry also continued with the construction of the cold storage facility and meat processing facility at Ongwediva Fresh Produce Hub during 2017/18. According to !Naruseb planned projects for this financial year include a feasibility study to be undertaken for the development of a meat processing facility at Bukalo in the Zambezi Region. The construction of the Bukalo Meat Processing Facility is also planned for this financial year. The ministry will also continue with the construction of the meat processing facility at the Ongwediva Fresh Produce Hub and construct a storm water drainage channel at Outapi Abattoir.!Naruseb said trail slaughters will be undertaken at Eenhana abattoir this financial year and the Rundu abattoir will also be completed and fitted with equipment. Other projects include the renovation of the Oshakati and Katima Mulilo abattoirs. !Naruseb added that Namibia continues to access foreign markets for its animals and animal products. The traditional markets are mainly in Norway, the EU, Angola and South Africa.Namibia has also managed to gain acceptance into China, Hong Kong, United States and Russia.Namibia has since exported three consignments of beef to Hong Kong and passed tests in that country.In September last year, Namibia was audited by the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). With regard to the US market the labels for Namibian beef have been approved by USDA and as such exports to the USA can now commence. ELLANIE SMIT