When markets are threatened, millions appear; when farmers are threatened, where is the support?

Recent corporate donations towards Namibia’s fight against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) have been widely welcomed. Businesses, industry stakeholders and ordinary citizens have recognised the seriousness of the outbreak and stepped forward to support containment efforts. This solidarity reflects the importance of protecting one of Namibia’s key economic pillars: its livestock sector.

Every dollar committed to fighting FMD helps protect livelihoods, preserve market access and safeguard the reputation of the agricultural industry. Those who have donated deserve recognition. Yet an uncomfortable question remains: why does this level of support appear to emerge only when outbreaks threaten key commercial and export-oriented livestock zones?

For farmers in the northern communal areas, including Zambezi, Kavango East and Kavango West, as well as other regions north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence, livestock diseases and movement restrictions are nothing new. They have lived with these challenges for decades. Limited access to premium markets and the economic consequences of disease have long been part of everyday farming life.

The current outbreak, however, has attracted significant public attention, corporate donations and urgent national discussion. While this response is justified, it raises questions about whose losses receive attention and whose struggles remain overlooked.

Different public reactions

A farmer in Katima Mulilo, Kongola or Rundu depends on cattle for income, food security and wealth preservation just as much as a farmer in Otjozondjupa or Hardap. Livestock represents years of investment, family security and future opportunities. When disease restricts movement or market access, the financial consequences can be devastating, regardless of location.

Yet public reactions often appear to differ. Outbreaks in regions already associated with livestock disease risks tend to be treated as regional challenges. When they affect disease-free zones, export markets or commercial production areas, they suddenly become national emergencies.

This perception may not be entirely fair, but it deserves attention.

Namibia’s livestock industry is interconnected. Disease outbreaks in one part of the country affect the broader sector. However, strong responses often coincide with threats to export earnings and commercial interests.

Businesses naturally seek to protect the sectors that affect their operations. Meat processors, exporters, retailers, transport companies, financial institutions and agricultural suppliers all have an interest in preventing disruptions to high-value livestock markets. There is nothing wrong with that. It is both rational and responsible.

The problem arises when commercial risk becomes the primary trigger for national solidarity. If support is mobilised mainly when business interests are threatened, communal farmers may reasonably feel excluded. Their losses may not affect international markets, but they affect household incomes, school fees, food purchases and community development.

The value of a cow should not depend on its location.

A beast owned by a communal farmer in Zambezi represents the same hopes and aspirations as one owned by a commercial farmer elsewhere. Both invest in animal health, depend on livestock for economic stability and deserve equal concern when disease threatens their livelihoods.

A more inclusive response

The current FMD outbreak presents an opportunity for Namibia to rethink how it supports livestock producers.

The country could consider establishing a permanent livestock disease response fund that provides assistance regardless of where outbreaks occur. Private-sector contributions could be coordinated through a national mechanism to ensure that resources reach all affected farmers, rather than only those in strategically important areas.

Greater investment is also needed in veterinary services, disease surveillance, animal identification programmes and vaccination campaigns, particularly in regions that have historically faced recurring disease challenges.

Most importantly, Namibia must begin treating livestock diseases as a national challenge rather than a regional one.

The livestock sector cannot thrive while some producers feel forgotten. Agricultural growth depends not only on protecting export markets but also on building an inclusive economy in which rural farmers are recognised as an integral part of the industry.

The northern communal areas contribute significantly to Namibia’s cattle population, support thousands of households and play an important role in rural economic activity. Overlooking their challenges until disease threatens commercial value chains risks deepening existing inequalities.

No one is suggesting that the support currently being mobilised is unnecessary. On the contrary, it is encouraging to see businesses, individuals and institutions contributing towards the fight against FMD. This spirit of responsibility should be celebrated. But true solidarity is measured by consistency.

Equity

The question is not whether companies should donate towards the current outbreak. They absolutely should. The more important question is whether the same urgency, commitment and financial support would emerge if an outbreak occurred in areas that do not threaten export earnings.

The livestock sector extends far beyond commercial farms and export markets. It includes communal farmers, small-scale producers and rural communities whose contributions are often overlooked until a crisis reaches the national spotlight.

FMD does not discriminate between farmers. It affects livelihoods wherever it strikes. Namibia’s response should reflect that reality.

A national livestock strategy must ensure that solidarity does not stop at the Veterinary Cordon Fence, that support is not determined by geography and that every farmer matters equally when disease threatens their livelihood.

* Mitchell Mutumba Simataa is a marketing and communications professional, entrepreneur and community educator. He has worked across media, agriculture, brand development and business strategy, with experience in agribusiness development. He is passionate about rural development, livestock value chains, youth empowerment and creating sustainable business opportunities within Namibia’s agricultural sector.