Meatco worries about FMD
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
Meatco has expressed concern about the ongoing outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the Northern Communal Areas (NCAs) and the potential threat that it can hold for the area south of Red Line.
Meatco CEO Mwilima Mushokabanji said of specific concern are the Zambezi, Kavango East and Kavango West regions, and recently the Ohangwena, Oshikoto and Oshana regions.
He stressed the importance of treatment, containment and prevention of FMD, saying it has the potential to negatively affect the area south of the veterinary cordon fence.
Mushokabanji said a reactive approach is compromising and not sustainable.
“Therefore, it is critical that a sustainable and permanent solution is found to ensure a capacitated pragmatic approach by all industry stakeholders to mitigate the impact of future FMD outbreaks on the livelihoods of the affected farmers and agribusinesses in the NCA that are already devastated by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.”
Permanent solution
He added that Meatco would continue to support efforts aimed at developing a sustainable and permanent solution to the FMD challenges in the NCA.
Mushokabanji further said that as part of Meatco’s mandate to serve all Namibian farmers, its NCA subsidiary is geared to implement its strategies as well as cabinet decisions and directives meant to address the plight of producers in northern Namibia.
He said that would be done through the implementation of commodity-based trade and strategic partnerships with the operators of the NCA abattoirs, as well as the establishment of feedlots and fodder production schemes to improve the quality of marketable animals.
Northern abattoirs
Mushokabanji said Meatco would operate the Rundu abattoir and provide technical support in the operation of Oshakati and Katima Mulilo abattoirs.
He said the renovation of the Rundu abattoir is nearing completion and the plant is expected to be handed over during the first quarter of this year.
“We will also continue to operate our Mobile Slaughter Unit (MSU) and the Meatma Bonanza as an outlet for distributing and selling our products in the NCA.”
NCA producers have not had access to export markets since the outbreak of FMD in 2015.
Mushokabanji also said that farmers from as far as Gam would now be able to market their cattle directly to Meatco and these cattle would be slaughtered directly at its abattoir.
“We achieved this following extensive engagement with the agriculture ministry and the newly renovated kraals are now EU complaint. As such, farmers will be able to market their livestock with ease.”
Important milestone
The Gam marketing kraal will be opened next month and direct procurement of cattle from the area is an important milestone for Meatco and the livestock industry.
He further said that Meatco’s integrated strategic business plan for the period 2021 to 2026 has been finished.
According to him the plan is a blueprint for a futuristic Meatco that strives to be a world-class meat brand creating sustainable wealth for all Namibians.
The business plan was submitted to the public enterprise ministry on 21 December for review and approval.
WINDHOEK
Meatco has expressed concern about the ongoing outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the Northern Communal Areas (NCAs) and the potential threat that it can hold for the area south of Red Line.
Meatco CEO Mwilima Mushokabanji said of specific concern are the Zambezi, Kavango East and Kavango West regions, and recently the Ohangwena, Oshikoto and Oshana regions.
He stressed the importance of treatment, containment and prevention of FMD, saying it has the potential to negatively affect the area south of the veterinary cordon fence.
Mushokabanji said a reactive approach is compromising and not sustainable.
“Therefore, it is critical that a sustainable and permanent solution is found to ensure a capacitated pragmatic approach by all industry stakeholders to mitigate the impact of future FMD outbreaks on the livelihoods of the affected farmers and agribusinesses in the NCA that are already devastated by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.”
Permanent solution
He added that Meatco would continue to support efforts aimed at developing a sustainable and permanent solution to the FMD challenges in the NCA.
Mushokabanji further said that as part of Meatco’s mandate to serve all Namibian farmers, its NCA subsidiary is geared to implement its strategies as well as cabinet decisions and directives meant to address the plight of producers in northern Namibia.
He said that would be done through the implementation of commodity-based trade and strategic partnerships with the operators of the NCA abattoirs, as well as the establishment of feedlots and fodder production schemes to improve the quality of marketable animals.
Northern abattoirs
Mushokabanji said Meatco would operate the Rundu abattoir and provide technical support in the operation of Oshakati and Katima Mulilo abattoirs.
He said the renovation of the Rundu abattoir is nearing completion and the plant is expected to be handed over during the first quarter of this year.
“We will also continue to operate our Mobile Slaughter Unit (MSU) and the Meatma Bonanza as an outlet for distributing and selling our products in the NCA.”
NCA producers have not had access to export markets since the outbreak of FMD in 2015.
Mushokabanji also said that farmers from as far as Gam would now be able to market their cattle directly to Meatco and these cattle would be slaughtered directly at its abattoir.
“We achieved this following extensive engagement with the agriculture ministry and the newly renovated kraals are now EU complaint. As such, farmers will be able to market their livestock with ease.”
Important milestone
The Gam marketing kraal will be opened next month and direct procurement of cattle from the area is an important milestone for Meatco and the livestock industry.
He further said that Meatco’s integrated strategic business plan for the period 2021 to 2026 has been finished.
According to him the plan is a blueprint for a futuristic Meatco that strives to be a world-class meat brand creating sustainable wealth for all Namibians.
The business plan was submitted to the public enterprise ministry on 21 December for review and approval.
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