NCA farmers in limbo
There is great concern over the delay in the opening of the Katima Mulilo and Oshakati abattoirs as cattle numbers increase and overgrazing is omnipresent.
Northern communal farmers are still in the dark after the failure by agriculture ministry to resume operations at the two abattoirs that shut down in 2016. Since that time, farmers have only had the Meatco mobile slaughter unit to market their livestock and they are now becoming desperate.
This was confirmed by the Namibia National Farmers' Union (NNFU) president Jason Emvula who told Namibian Sun that the Oshakati and Katima Mulilo abattoirs would not resume operations any time soon as the government has to first renovate them before handing them over the new leaseholders.
This is despite the fact that agriculture minister John Mutorwa, announced in August last year that the two abattoirs would resume operations by November last year.
Emvula said when Mutorwa made the announcement farmers were excited and ready to sell their cattle, and now they are desperate to find a market.
“We are demanding these abattoirs resume operations soonest. Farmers are ready to sell their livestock but there is no market for them. Currently they are trying anything possible for them to get customers for their livestock,” Emvula said.
According to the union, cattle numbers have increased from roughly a million animals to 1.6 million. There is not enough grazing for everyone and overgrazing is currently taking place all over the communal regions. This is unsustainable, but is also bad for farmers who cannot make any money off their livestock.
“We are informed that works and transport ministry just completed with evaluation of the two abattoirs.
“The abattoirs are not in a good condition for them to operate as on-standard facilities. Infrastructure is damaged and they need to be repaired.”
Emvula said that evaluation shows government would have to put in several million dollars.
In 2016 Meatco announced it will no longer operate and manage the two abattoirs after accumulating immense losses for several years. The company decided it will instead make use of mobile slaughter units within the northern communal areas.
The closure had a negative effect on NCA farmers, who were consequently unable to market their livestock.
During August Mutorwa announced that the abattoirs will now be run by private sector entities, with the Oshakati abattoir having been given to KIAT Investment Holdings, while the Katima Mulilo abattoir was given to Zambezi Meat Corporation (ZAMCO) to operate.
The agriculture ministry's public relations department confirmed that the two abattoirs are not yet in operation.
“A lot needs to be done. Firstly, the paperwork and agreements with companies that will lease them are not yet finalised, and secondly the ministry needs to renovate them first before they can start operating. All of this will take time,” Jona Musheko, agriculture PRO said.
Emvula said that since the closure of the two abattoirs, the northern farmers have been faced with a serious challenge of selling their livestock.
“If you drive along the area you will see that farmers have established informal livestock selling points which are not good for human or animal health. At those markets there are no veterinarians to determine animal health and the government is also not benefiting anything from these sales,” he said.
This was confirmed by the Namibia National Farmers' Union (NNFU) president Jason Emvula who told Namibian Sun that the Oshakati and Katima Mulilo abattoirs would not resume operations any time soon as the government has to first renovate them before handing them over the new leaseholders.
This is despite the fact that agriculture minister John Mutorwa, announced in August last year that the two abattoirs would resume operations by November last year.
Emvula said when Mutorwa made the announcement farmers were excited and ready to sell their cattle, and now they are desperate to find a market.
“We are demanding these abattoirs resume operations soonest. Farmers are ready to sell their livestock but there is no market for them. Currently they are trying anything possible for them to get customers for their livestock,” Emvula said.
According to the union, cattle numbers have increased from roughly a million animals to 1.6 million. There is not enough grazing for everyone and overgrazing is currently taking place all over the communal regions. This is unsustainable, but is also bad for farmers who cannot make any money off their livestock.
“We are informed that works and transport ministry just completed with evaluation of the two abattoirs.
“The abattoirs are not in a good condition for them to operate as on-standard facilities. Infrastructure is damaged and they need to be repaired.”
Emvula said that evaluation shows government would have to put in several million dollars.
In 2016 Meatco announced it will no longer operate and manage the two abattoirs after accumulating immense losses for several years. The company decided it will instead make use of mobile slaughter units within the northern communal areas.
The closure had a negative effect on NCA farmers, who were consequently unable to market their livestock.
During August Mutorwa announced that the abattoirs will now be run by private sector entities, with the Oshakati abattoir having been given to KIAT Investment Holdings, while the Katima Mulilo abattoir was given to Zambezi Meat Corporation (ZAMCO) to operate.
The agriculture ministry's public relations department confirmed that the two abattoirs are not yet in operation.
“A lot needs to be done. Firstly, the paperwork and agreements with companies that will lease them are not yet finalised, and secondly the ministry needs to renovate them first before they can start operating. All of this will take time,” Jona Musheko, agriculture PRO said.
Emvula said that since the closure of the two abattoirs, the northern farmers have been faced with a serious challenge of selling their livestock.
“If you drive along the area you will see that farmers have established informal livestock selling points which are not good for human or animal health. At those markets there are no veterinarians to determine animal health and the government is also not benefiting anything from these sales,” he said.
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