Meat Board approves energisers for jumbo menace

The Meat Board of Namibia has approved the purchase of approximately N$900 000 worth of energisers and other accessories to protect the Namibia-Botswana border fence against elephant encroachment.

According the latest issue of the Namibia Agricultural board newsletter, the installation of the electrification equipment is still subject to a proper security contract with the government, which must be confirmed with an on-site security firm.

“Elephant intrusion from Botswana creates a significant problem with the integrity of the fence and the protection of Namibia’s internationally confirmed foot-and-mouth disease-free zone and must, therefore, be maximally protected,” said the newsletter.

The beef sub-sector marketed 72 968 cattle from January to April 2022, a 19% increase from 61 433 head marketed in the same period last year.

According to the Meat Board of Namibia, from January to April 2022 beef exports doubled, recording a 149% increase to 2 987 896 kilogrammes, compared to the 1 199 247kg recorded in 2021.

The top beef export destinations are the European Union with 29% of total beef exports, Norway with 25% and South Africa with 24%.
In July last year, Namibia’s cattle industry is valued at approximately N$4,6 billion and accounts for 4,3% of all goods and services produced by the country every year.

The World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, in a recent private sector diagnostic report, said Namibia is a net exporter of beef, and approximately 85% of the exported meat (N$2,6 billion) goes to South Africa, the European Union, Norway, Russia, China and Angola, with the rest exported to other African and emerging market countries.

According to the report, there are opportunities to increase the value addition in the beef sector.

Selina Wamucii, a Kenya-based agricultural company and social enterprise that markets produce from smallholder farmers and monitors prices daily, says the retail price range for Namibian beef yesterday was between US$5 and US$11 per kilogramme or between N$97,14 and N$213,72 per kilogramme in Windhoek and at Walvis Bay.