Namibian wool an untapped market
Namibia currently produces about 360 tonnes of karakul wool annually, of which only 50 tonnes are used locally.
The untapped market for Namibian wool was recently highlighted at an information day that was held by the Swakara Board in Windhoek.
Bernd Rothkegel, a co-opted board member, gave a summary on the Swakara Wool Initiative being carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development.
He said wool is a by-product of karakul sheep which is used to make carpets and other products
“We can confidently say that there is an untapped market for Namibian wool and plenty of scope for local value addition,” he said.
Raimar von Hase, chairperson of the Swakara Board of Namibia, sketched the background of karakul farming in Namibia, which started more than 100 years ago.
He said karakul slowly developed into a meaningful economic force and thereby improved the living standards of many Namibians.
“From humble beginnings, production took off in the mid-1930s and by 1934 already close to 355 000 pelts were exported.
By 1943 the amount totalled 2.2 million pelts and culminated in a record amount of 5.5 million pelts sold during auctions in 1972.
“However, the industry came to a near standstill in the late 1980s because of fashion changes, overproduction and the anti-fur activities of the animal rights movement.
“In 2015, just over 120 000 karakul pelts were marketed at Kopenhagen Fur in Denmark.”
Von Hase said karakul farming has made significant contributions to the well-being of Namibians, especially in the arid southern parts of the country.
Karakul producer and board member Paulus Apollus said the industry has created many employment opportunities and contributes meaningfully to the rural economy.
Apollus urged new and upcoming farmers to join the industry and produce more pelts to sell on the international markets.
The information day was concluded with a presentation on how pelts are sorted and prepared for the international markets. The next auction will take place on 10 September in Denmark.
ELLANIE SMIT
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