Meatco starts stakeholder engagements
STAFF REPORTER
WINDHOEK
The newly appointed Meatco board and management began stakeholder engagement meetings last week. These meetings kicked off at Gobabis on 13 July and will end in the north on 6 August.
Last week's meetings ended at Grootfontein on Thursday.
Meatco Board chairperson Johnnie Hamman highlighted the need to improve the relationship with producers.
“As the newly appointed board chairperson, I have committed myself to serve this position with true commitment and serve all the producers in this county.
“Together with my board, we have been hard at work since we took office on 1 May. One of the most important stakeholder engagements was to meet the banks and now the producers, which the board considers to be the most critical stakeholder,” Hamman said.
Facing challenges
Hamman said he understands the many challenges farmers are facing, such as the devastating drought of the past few years and reduced throughput to the export abattoir.
He stressed the need for the stakeholders to come together and map the way forward to increase livestock throughput.
Farmers who attended the meetings appreciated the immediate engagements the board and management undertook following their appointment.
“After this meeting, I have a lot of hope. I am sure that most of the farmers here today feel the same. The biggest thing here is that you (Meatco) have started setting this precedent, now it is time to live up to it. This type of communication and engagement with the producers is what must carry on.” said James Tromp, a farmer from the Hochfeld area.
Albert Hinjou from the Otavi area also said the meeting went well, but added that Meatco should not take another five years before engaging with them.
“These meetings are very important and we, as farmers, learn a lot from them,” he said. Another producer, Eeni Kopp, said without Meatco the cattle industry in the country will not be preserved, as it has always been a price stabiliser and an important role player in agriculture.
“Should Meatco cease to exist, other abattoirs, as highlighted, will set cattle prices to their advantage. I, therefore, think it is important that Meatco continues to exist within this sector.” The next meetings will start on 27 July at Aminuis and end at Coblenz on 30 July. Next month, the meetings will start in the Zambezi Region on 3 August before proceeding to the central northern regions.
Meatco's management will also find a suitable date to engage farmers in southern Namibia. The dates will be communicated in due course.
WINDHOEK
The newly appointed Meatco board and management began stakeholder engagement meetings last week. These meetings kicked off at Gobabis on 13 July and will end in the north on 6 August.
Last week's meetings ended at Grootfontein on Thursday.
Meatco Board chairperson Johnnie Hamman highlighted the need to improve the relationship with producers.
“As the newly appointed board chairperson, I have committed myself to serve this position with true commitment and serve all the producers in this county.
“Together with my board, we have been hard at work since we took office on 1 May. One of the most important stakeholder engagements was to meet the banks and now the producers, which the board considers to be the most critical stakeholder,” Hamman said.
Facing challenges
Hamman said he understands the many challenges farmers are facing, such as the devastating drought of the past few years and reduced throughput to the export abattoir.
He stressed the need for the stakeholders to come together and map the way forward to increase livestock throughput.
Farmers who attended the meetings appreciated the immediate engagements the board and management undertook following their appointment.
“After this meeting, I have a lot of hope. I am sure that most of the farmers here today feel the same. The biggest thing here is that you (Meatco) have started setting this precedent, now it is time to live up to it. This type of communication and engagement with the producers is what must carry on.” said James Tromp, a farmer from the Hochfeld area.
Albert Hinjou from the Otavi area also said the meeting went well, but added that Meatco should not take another five years before engaging with them.
“These meetings are very important and we, as farmers, learn a lot from them,” he said. Another producer, Eeni Kopp, said without Meatco the cattle industry in the country will not be preserved, as it has always been a price stabiliser and an important role player in agriculture.
“Should Meatco cease to exist, other abattoirs, as highlighted, will set cattle prices to their advantage. I, therefore, think it is important that Meatco continues to exist within this sector.” The next meetings will start on 27 July at Aminuis and end at Coblenz on 30 July. Next month, the meetings will start in the Zambezi Region on 3 August before proceeding to the central northern regions.
Meatco's management will also find a suitable date to engage farmers in southern Namibia. The dates will be communicated in due course.
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