Breakfast without bacon looms

NAMIBIANS should brace themselves for a shortage of pork products after Government slapped a ban on imports from neighbouring South Africa.

The move followed an outbreak of swine fever in the Western and Eastern Cape regions of South Africa. A chief veterinary officer with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development, Otto Huebschle, earlier said no permits would be issued for the importation of live pigs, pork and pork products originating from South Africa.Furthermore, permits issued before the ban were cancelled forthwith.Although it is still possible to import pork from other countries such as Brazil and Europe, players on the local market said the demand would outstrip the supply.This would affect consumers as food outlets, retail stores and supermarkets scramble for the reduced supplies.A sales manager with the Farmers Meat Market in Windhoek said shortages were imminent despite Government assurances of looking elsewhere for imports.The official denied assertions that the local pig-farming industry could meet the demand.”There is no way that the Namibian pig industry and local farmers can supply enough pork and related products to meet the demand.Shortages are thus imminent,” he said.The sales manager added that the bulk of pork products consumed in Namibia were imported from South Africa.A survey among Windhoek’s major supermarkets showed that pork, sausages and other related products were still available this week, but consumers will start feeling the pinch within a few weeks’ time.On average, it takes a month for any imported material from destinations such as Europe or South America to arrive at Walvis Bay harbour.An veterinary official in the Agriculture Ministry said the duration of the ban would depend on the situation in South Africa.A chief veterinary officer with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development, Otto Huebschle, earlier said no permits would be issued for the importation of live pigs, pork and pork products originating from South Africa.Furthermore, permits issued before the ban were cancelled forthwith.Although it is still possible to import pork from other countries such as Brazil and Europe, players on the local market said the demand would outstrip the supply.This would affect consumers as food outlets, retail stores and supermarkets scramble for the reduced supplies.A sales manager with the Farmers Meat Market in Windhoek said shortages were imminent despite Government assurances of looking elsewhere for imports.The official denied assertions that the local pig-farming industry could meet the demand.”There is no way that the Namibian pig industry and local farmers can supply enough pork and related products to meet the demand.Shortages are thus imminent,” he said.The sales manager added that the bulk of pork products consumed in Namibia were imported from South Africa.A survey among Windhoek’s major supermarkets showed that pork, sausages and other related products were still available this week, but consumers will start feeling the pinch within a few weeks’ time.On average, it takes a month for any imported material from destinations such as Europe or South America to arrive at Walvis Bay harbour.An veterinary official in the Agriculture Ministry said the duration of the ban would depend on the situation in South Africa.