MEAT BOARD INVITED TO CONSULTATITIVE MEETING WITH MINISTER REGARDING DWINDLING SLAUGHTER NUMBERS AT NAMIBIAN EXPORT
ABATTOIRS
The Meat Board Chairman and General Manager were invited by the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Honorable !Naruseb to a Ministerial and Industry role- players meeting on 11 July 2018 to discuss the decline in beef and sheep numbers offered to export abattoirs. Various opinions and reasons for the state of affairs have been raised, after which the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry indicated that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry must conduct an impact study to determine and obtain information, facts and reasons for the current state of affairs and to base any further decision or intervention on actual data and information. All the different role players in the livestock and meat industry will form part of the process.
HANDING OVER OF TWO ABATTOIRS NORTH OF THE VETERINARY CORDON FENCE.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, as owner of two newly built local abattoirs at Eenhana and Outapi, entered into a lease agreement with the Namibia National Liberation Veterans Association for a period of ten years. A business agreement between the Association and Africa Meat Supplies, namely Northern Namibia Abattoirs, was established to operate both the Outapi and Eenhana abattoirs. In support of the initiative, the Meat Board organized an information day at Outapi on 5 July 2018, which was attended by over 180 producers, some of them traveling from as far as Kunene, to learn about the supply of cattle to the abattoirs. Given the absence of a formal slaughter-market in the areas north of the veterinary cordon fence since mid- 2015, the Meat Board is very positive about the operationalization of the abattoirs and wishes Northern Namibia Abattoirs every success. The abattoirs intend to be in operation before September 2018.
MEAT BOARD ORGANISES INFORMATION DAY AT KATIMA MULILO
The Meat Board in collaboration with the Meat Board office at Katima Mulilo held a highly successful information day at Katima Mulilo on Tuesday, 17 July 2018. About 157 producers from as far as Impalile Island attended the day. The day was opened by the Special Advisor to the Governor. The Meat Board has emphasized its concern about the lack of markets for beef producers in the Zambezi region. In addition, contributions were made by the State Veterinarian, Intervet, Namibian Police and Agribank. Mr Chilinda, member of Meat Board has indicated that renovation to the Katima Mulilo abattoir will start on Monday 23 July – a step welcomed by all parties.