NCA afflicted by lack of markets

The Northern Communal Areas (NCA) are feeling the economic pinch amid the presence of the veterinary cordon fence (VCF) and are without markets for their livestock, Opuwo Urban constituency councillor Weich Mupia has said.Speaking to Nampa on Wednesday, Mupia said the majority of the Namibian populace is left out of the mainstream meat markets.“The Northern Communal Areas remain backward in terms of finding markets for their livestock. The situation of a lack of market remains the same in Kunene, Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena, Kavango West, Kavango East, Oshikoto and the Zambezi regions respectively,” said Mupia.He said the available markets, which are south of the VCF in the commercial areas only cater for the few in those areas, whereas the majority of Namibia are left to suffer. “Something drastically has to be carried out by government, the community at large and farmer bodies, such as farmers associations and unions, to change the marketing situation for the better and improve marketing all over the country,” he said. Mupia, however, noted that some of farmers in the communal areas were slowly starting to enter the mainstream, through the Land Reform Ministry and Agribank's Affirmative Action Farming programme.Additionally, Mupia lamented the sporadic occurrence of the foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease in the Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions, carried by African buffalo.“Like now, a buffalo was spotted in Otjozondjupa and another one in the Omaheke Region. This means, the restriction of the movement of livestock in the two regions, and consequently no sale of livestock,” he said, adding this situation exposes farmers to economic hardship. This is despite the fact that farmers invest heavily in their livestock, just to suffer immensely as a result of possible FMD outbreaks, he said.On Namibia's teetering economy, he said the 2018/19 national budget ought to direct the country out of poverty. “Once the status quo is allowed to continue, poverty eradication from the side of agriculture, as an economic sector, will remain a mere pipedream for years to come,” he added.NAMPA

NCA afflicted by lack of markets

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-09

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NCA afflicted by lack of markets

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-09

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