Farmers endure tough year due to drought

Chairperson of the Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO) Jako van Wyk says this year has been difficult for many livestock farmers severely affected by drought.

Severe drought conditions have strained large parts of the country, as many producers still have not fully rebuilt their herds or recovered economically from the 2019 drought.

Van Wyk highlights these challenges ahead of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) gala, to be held in Windhoek on 4 November.

In its newsletter, the NAU says annual congresses are skipped every second year, and this year’s event was replaced by regional congresses at Otjiwarongo on 30 September, Keetmanshoop on 2 October and Windhoek on 4 October.

Matters relating to the NAU and its affiliate member LPO were discussed during these meetings, says the NAU.

Van Wyk says the drought, declared a state of emergency by president Nangolo Mbumba earlier this year, resulted in emergency marketing utilising all appropriate marketing channels, which saw livestock prices falling to a record low in March.

According to the Livestock and Livestock Products Board (LLPB), formerly known as the Meat Board, cattle marketing recorded a 25.2% increase, bringing the 2024 year-to-date total to 243 431 compared to 171 838 marketed during the same period last year.

Van Wyk says Mbumba’s state of emergency declaration was met with gratitude by producers, as it initiated the necessary protocols to address the drought across all regions, unlocking the budgeted N$825 million for relief measures.

He has also expressed concern about international lamb exports not yet resuming, which places sheep producers in the difficult position of having to rely primarily on the South African market.

Sheep slaughtering activities at export approved and local abattoirs dropped during July, recording declines of 25% and 36.8%, according to the LLPB.

Van Wyk says despite these challenges, the state-owned Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) played a vital role in assisting producers with cattle marketing.

“We express our gratitude to the Meatco board, who remain available for consultation with the LPO and the wider industry.

“The LPO also appreciates the Namibian government for reallocating funds within the national budget to support Meatco, ensuring that it can continue to operate in the best interest of our country,” he adds.

In August, finance and public enterprises minister Iipumbu Shiimi announced that the government pumped N$700 million into Meatco from 2021 to 2023 to service and repay Meatco’s debt obligations, as well as to support its operations.

Shiimi said Meatco had consistently struggled to pay its debt with commercial banks, and the ministry had established a task force to find a solution to the parastatal’s problems.

The LPO says it is critical that Meatco maintains its independence in a highly competitive commercial environment in which a number of private cattle marketing companies, including Savanna Beef Namibia and Beefcor Namibia, have recently emerged to compete with Meatco in the sector.

The LPO says it welcomes any additional marketing opportunities within the livestock industry that may arise in the future, contributing to healthy competition, local value addition and potential job opportunities. – email: matthew@namibian.com.na