THE MEAT BOARD STATISTICS SHOWS AFTER 2019 DROUGHT
The latest Meat Board of Namibia statistics shows disturbing consequences of the 2019 drought around livestock marketing during 2020. On a year to year basis ending July 2020, total marketing of cattle decreased by 39%. The export abattoirs slaughtered 56% fewer cattle, while live cattle exports (mainly weaners), fell by 50%. In terms of sheep marketing, 56% fewer sheep were marketed on a year-to-year basis up to and including July 2020. Sheep export abattoirs slaughtered 84% fewer sheep, while live sheep exports declined by 52% on a year-on-year basis ending July 2020. The total marketing of goats is 74% less on a year to year basis ending July 2020, the reason not so much to the drought but the Covid-19 restrictions around gathering attendance in South Africa. So there was not necessarily a demand for goats for traditional weddings and funerals. The consequences of the 2019 drought will be felt for some time to come, especially in the area of producer and secondary agribusiness income and corresponding financial contributions to the national economy. Only good rainy seasons over the next few years will restore the meat industry. It is important that the meat industry is given the opportunity for recovery and not faced with any restrictions to serve Namibia’s current markets for both livestock and meat.
THE MEAT BOARD MAKES A LECTURE AT AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE
The Meat Board of Namibia delivered a presentation at the first virtual Agricultural Conference in Namibia on 2 & 3 September 2020. The presentation dealt with the environment, challenges and opportunities for the meat industry to increase its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product. The economic contribution of agriculture to the national Gross Domestic Product has declined in recent years for various reasons, but mainly due to sustained droughts and lack of confidence in the sector. Proposals to increase the contribution of the meat industry to the agriculture Gross Domestic Product include the restoration of confidence in the sector by the government, a functional government service, prevention of mismanagement of scarce financial resources; and with specific focus on the utilization of the cattle population north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence, support for charcoal production, as well as the commercialization of the Green Schemes. Strategies not to be followed include any restrictions on market access for both livestock and meat, and any construction of additional abattoirs or processing plants north of the veterinary cordon fence. The fastest way to increase the contribution of the meat industry to agriculture Gross Domestic Product is to increase the sales value of the industry’s respective products with highly efficient export value chains and institutions.
SERVING THE PRODUCER THROUGH INNOVATIONS
The Meat Board of Namibia (MBN) is pleased to announce that through successful collaboration with the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS), online services with regard to livestock identification, traceability and marketing has now been expanded! The motivation behind this expansion of NamLITS online was firstly to facilitate livestock marketing through assisting the producer to comply with livestock identification and traceability requirements and secondly, to reduce the administrative burden for the DVS.
This expansion has come at an opportune time, where the global Coronavirus Pandemic has changed ways in which we conduct business, reducing face-to-face contact. This expanded NamLITS online allows producers to perform administrative requirements electronically and from the comfort of their homes.
Producers are urged to embrace this development, which will allow producers more responsibility regarding correctness of data on the central database (Namibian Livestock Identification and Traceability System: NamLITS) and hassle free marketing of livestock!
NamLITS online can be accessed at www.namlits.com. Once you have registered as a user on NamLITS online, a number of user friendly functions will be available to you!
For more information, please visit our website at www.nammic.com, under the heading “Meat Standards” – “About FAN Meat” – “Namlits”. A complete step-by-step user guideline, as well as quick guidelines to NamLITS online can be downloaded from there.
You can also contact our friendly NamLITS helpdesk team at the Meat Board at:
Tel: +264 61 275 851 / 853 / 879 / 861 or inquiries@nammic.com.na
