18 November 2008
The ban on live sheep exports to South Africa, which has bogged down sheep producers for nearly two years, could seriously damage the small-stock sector in Namibia and cause the closure of some abattoirs.
During its annual strategic planning meeting last week, the Livestock Producers' Organisation (LPO) again warned that Government's restrictions on sheep exports was seen as discriminating against the small stock industry.
Government requires that for every live sheep exported, six must be slaughtered locally.
"It also limits farmers to sell not-market-ready animals, fat-tail sheep and off-grades at a competitive price," according to Friday's weekly newsletter of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU).
"Due to decreasing numbers of sheep brought to local abattoirs, some of them might have to close," the LPO cautioned.
Government has not yet taken a decision about the future of small-stock marketing in Namibia, as farmers prepare for the busy mutton-marketing season before Christmas.
Farmers are mainly dissatisfied because they are held responsible for filling the surplus slaughtering capacity that was created in Namibia.
There also is no mechanism forcing local abattoirs to pay a competitive price.
South African abattoirs in the Northern Cape are said to pay better prices for live sheep and also for fat-tails and off-grade animals that cannot be sold in Namibia, depriving Namibian sheep farmers of income.
According to the NAU newsletter, some local abattoirs seem to show some understanding of the dilemma that farmers are facing.
"Talks are currently held amongst these abattoirs, producers and producer organisations to see whether a solution is possible," the newsletter stated.
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