Dairy industry sets agenda for 2021
Feed cost still a headache
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
Dairy producers say government support is needed for the Namibian dairy industry to survive.
The Dairy Producers Association (DPA) held its management meeting at the beginning of February, which addressed the agenda of the year and looked at various ways of sustaining the dairy industry.
According to the Namibian Agriculture Union (NAU), feed cost remains one of the biggest challenges for the industry.
“Although good rains fell across the country and there is plenty of lucerne available, the cost of dairy by-products required to boost milk production, unfortunately, remains high, thus negatively affecting milk volumes.”
The NAU says the positive outlook is that all role players present at the meeting are eager to work together to sustain the industry effectively.
“One such commitment is to support the industry at large and to bring communal dairy producers on board.”
The role players looked at various ways to assist other dairy producers by sharing expertise, providing technical support and training.
The meeting further stressed that for the Namibian dairy industry to survive, government support is required.
Therefore, the industry is keen to hear the government’s position on the requested support mechanisms, the union said.
A members’ meeting should be held later in the year, and all the relevant information will be shared in advance with members.
Grain farmers register
Meanwhile, the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) is calling for the registration of all white maize and mahangu farmers across the country.
As the regulatory body for the agronomy and horticulture industry, the NAB is mandated to promote these sectors and to facilitate production, processing, storage and marketing of controlled agronomic and horticultural products in Namibia.
The NAB says the registration is for the efficient facilitation of locally produced grains for farmers who wish to market grains to the registered millers/silos during the upcoming 2021 marketing season.
The registration of grain farmers runs between 1 February and 30 March. After that, selective field verification will be conducted before the start of the marketing season on 1 May.
WINDHOEK
Dairy producers say government support is needed for the Namibian dairy industry to survive.
The Dairy Producers Association (DPA) held its management meeting at the beginning of February, which addressed the agenda of the year and looked at various ways of sustaining the dairy industry.
According to the Namibian Agriculture Union (NAU), feed cost remains one of the biggest challenges for the industry.
“Although good rains fell across the country and there is plenty of lucerne available, the cost of dairy by-products required to boost milk production, unfortunately, remains high, thus negatively affecting milk volumes.”
The NAU says the positive outlook is that all role players present at the meeting are eager to work together to sustain the industry effectively.
“One such commitment is to support the industry at large and to bring communal dairy producers on board.”
The role players looked at various ways to assist other dairy producers by sharing expertise, providing technical support and training.
The meeting further stressed that for the Namibian dairy industry to survive, government support is required.
Therefore, the industry is keen to hear the government’s position on the requested support mechanisms, the union said.
A members’ meeting should be held later in the year, and all the relevant information will be shared in advance with members.
Grain farmers register
Meanwhile, the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) is calling for the registration of all white maize and mahangu farmers across the country.
As the regulatory body for the agronomy and horticulture industry, the NAB is mandated to promote these sectors and to facilitate production, processing, storage and marketing of controlled agronomic and horticultural products in Namibia.
The NAB says the registration is for the efficient facilitation of locally produced grains for farmers who wish to market grains to the registered millers/silos during the upcoming 2021 marketing season.
The registration of grain farmers runs between 1 February and 30 March. After that, selective field verification will be conducted before the start of the marketing season on 1 May.
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