Desie Heita
7 October 2008
Windhoek — Government is urging cattle farmers to be supportive of local slaughterhouses many of which are currently underutilised, as farmers prefer weaner production.
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Isak Katali, said it has become clear that Cabinet's wish for employment creation and value addition are not being realised.
"Livestock farmers and abattoir operators must individually and collectively have a clear understanding of the Government's intentions, which are to secure sufficient throughput at abattoirs thereby creating employment, adding value to raw materials and contributing to economic growth," said Katali.
He said the Government is exploring new initiatives through broad consultations to bring the matter back on course. Katali further said the Ministry of Agriculture is willing to assist cattle farmers through supporting initiatives to build feedlots in the country.
The two northern abattoirs at Katima Mulilo and Oshakati are the most underutilised mainly due to the low offtake in the northern area. The two abattoirs also happen to be over the Veterinary Cordon Fence.
The Katima Mulilo abattoir has capacity to slaughter 15000 cattle per annum but it only slaughters 9000 cattle per year, while the Oshakati abattoir slaughters 9000 cattle per year against its slaughtering capacity of 42000 cattle per year.
"There are many challenges as to why farmers are not marketing their animals through the abattoirs, some of which are high marketing costs and low prices. The export market favours mostly B-grade cattle with slaughter ages between 24 and 36 months," said Katali.
The deputy minister said the Government intends to bring all parts of the country into the mainstream economy and there are plans to upgrade animal health status in the northern communal areas through targeted interventions to minimise the occurrence of livestock diseases. Government also intends to enhance national capacity of disease surveillance to ensure early detection, response and return to normalcy.
To date, more than 50 percent of the national herd is not being marketed because of animal diseases. Okavango and Caprivi regions continue to experience outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, with the last spell experienced in July this year, leading to a severe disruption in livestock marketing in the two regions.
"Although the situation appears to be under control, it remains of great concern," said Katali, adding that normal trade in livestock in the southern part of the country continues because of the Veterinary Cordon Fence.
He said the Government is concerned with the intentional and wanton destruction of disease control fences as well as international border fences serving the same purpose.
"The law will deal harshly with the perpetrators," said Katali.
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