NAU clarifies misunderstanding on weaner export limits discussed at Pretoria meeting

The Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) has clarified that limiting Namibian weaner exports to South Africa is a misunderstanding.

This comes after the matter was discussed at the National Red Meat Producers Organisation’s meeting in Pretoria, South Africa, on 4 September.

The meeting was attended by the Namibian Livestock Producers’ Organisation (LPO), the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) of South Africa, and the Ghanzi Farmers’ Association of Botswana.

The NAU issued a statement through its weekly newsletter of 13 September to its members, which read in part: “In addition, South African weaner producers, similar to their Namibian counterparts, are grappling with a 60% increase in production costs since 2017, while income levels have remained stagnant.

“This financial strain has led the RPO to consider limiting the import of Namibian meat and weaned calves.”

The Namibian ran a report based on this statement, titled ‘SA to reduce weaners imported from Namibia’ on 16 September.

However, NAU spokesperson Tanja Dahl yesterday said: “The NAU proudly publishes its newsletters in Afrikaans and English. With the newsletter published on Friday, 13 September, reference was made to an article ‘International Red Meat Forum’ or ‘Internasionale Rooivleisbedryf-gespreksforum’.

“To avoid any misinterpretation of our article and the message intended, we wish to clarify that during discussions held between the RPO and the LPO, limiting imports were not considered. We wish to replace the third paragraph of our English edition to reflect the intended message as per our Afrikaans edition to read as follows:

“In addition, South African weaner producers, similar to their Namibian counterparts, are grappling with a 60% increase in production costs since 2017, while income levels have remained stagnant. This financial pinch gives rise to pressure on the RPO concerning imports of Namibian meat and weaners.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this might have caused,” the NAU said.

– email: matthew@namibian.com.na