Zim imports Namibian beef

Markets
WINDHOEK — Namibia has sealed a deal to export bone-in beef from the country’s northern communal areas (NCAs) to Zimbabwe, which will commence immediately once the collection points for cattle to be slaughtered have been identified in the NCAs.

WINDHOEK — Namibia has sealed a deal to export bone-in beef from the country’s northern communal areas (NCAs) to Zimbabwe, which will commence immediately once the collection points for cattle to be slaughtered have been identified in the NCAs.

It is the first time Namibia will be exporting beef on the bone, as currently only deboned beef is exported to South Africa (80%) and Europe (10%), while the rest of the locally-produced beef lands on the local market.

The agreement is to export a one-off quota of 1 000 tonnes of beef spread over 20 months with a monthly quota not exceeding 50 tonnes to help communal farmers whose animals are dying daily due to the severe drought that Namibia currently faces.

The beef will come primarily from farmers who are currently involved in the Community-Based Rangeland and Livestock Management project and other farmers in the NCAs.

The meat will be derived from the Meatco Oshakati abattoir, which is an export-rated slaughter facility. The only consistent market for Namibian beef has been South Africa where only deboned beef is allowed into the country.

P+art of the NCAs targeted for exports to Zimbabwe stretches from Kavango East to northern Kunene in the west, with the regions of Kavango West, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Oshana and Omusati inbetween.

Officially announcing the commencement of exports of bone-in beef was the Agriculture, Water and Forestry minister John Mutorwa, who said his ministry was working very hard for the Zambezi Region to eventually attain international recognition in terms of livestock being free of foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease, which is set to be granted by the World Organisation for Animal Health.

Zambezi region lies between the infected neighbouring zone to the east and the country’s FMD-free zone to the south.

The idea follows vigorous consultative meetings by livestock marketing co-operatives, the agriculture ministry, the Zimbabwean embassy and the Meat Board of Namibia that eventually successfully motivated the marketing in Zimbabwe of bone-in beef from the NCAs.

Mutorwa said the potential success is of great significance to both countries, in that it comes at a time when Namibia is experiencing the most serious drought in decades and so far has resulted in the loss of many cattle and small stock.

‑ New Era