New abattoir operators identified
Two local companies have been identified to run the government-owned abattoirs at Oshakati and Katima Mulilo.
Without identifying the companies, agriculture minister John Mutorwa said: “The two companies submitted business plans that were insightful and attractive and were awarded the tenders.”
He said it was just a question of finalising the paperwork before they could start.
The tenders were advertised in local newspapers last year.
Mutorwa was responding to a question from Sabine Mufenda, who represented the Kavango West Regional Farmers Union at a community meeting conducted by Vice-president Nickey Iyambo.
Mufenda said markets for livestock had been non-existent and wanted to know what the government was doing to address the problem.
She recommended that the Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency at Rundu be given the authority to enforce a cabinet directive that required all public tenderers in the Northern Communal Area (NCA) to source meat products from that area.
Mufenda further asked whether internal veterinary fences could be erected in the NCA to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
Mutorwa said whether such fences were erected between villages, constituencies or regions in terms of the Animal Health Act, that authority was given to the minister of agriculture, which implied that it should be a straightforward matter.
Such a development would, however, most likely lead to misunderstandings among community members.
“There is nothing that prevents it by law but it must be the responsibility of leaders to thoroughly explain and educate the masses what erecting a livestock fence entails,” the minister said.
NAMPA
Without identifying the companies, agriculture minister John Mutorwa said: “The two companies submitted business plans that were insightful and attractive and were awarded the tenders.”
He said it was just a question of finalising the paperwork before they could start.
The tenders were advertised in local newspapers last year.
Mutorwa was responding to a question from Sabine Mufenda, who represented the Kavango West Regional Farmers Union at a community meeting conducted by Vice-president Nickey Iyambo.
Mufenda said markets for livestock had been non-existent and wanted to know what the government was doing to address the problem.
She recommended that the Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency at Rundu be given the authority to enforce a cabinet directive that required all public tenderers in the Northern Communal Area (NCA) to source meat products from that area.
Mufenda further asked whether internal veterinary fences could be erected in the NCA to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
Mutorwa said whether such fences were erected between villages, constituencies or regions in terms of the Animal Health Act, that authority was given to the minister of agriculture, which implied that it should be a straightforward matter.
Such a development would, however, most likely lead to misunderstandings among community members.
“There is nothing that prevents it by law but it must be the responsibility of leaders to thoroughly explain and educate the masses what erecting a livestock fence entails,” the minister said.
NAMPA
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