Karakul industry recovers as demand in Asia grows

THE Chairman of the Karakul Board, Kobus Van Wyk, says the 100 per cent sale of pelts achieved at the recent Copenhagen fur auction shows that the industry is recovering.

Kobus Van Wyk told The Namibian that 120 000 pelts have been sold so far this year, which was an excellent achievement when compared to the 60 000 pelts sold annually during the 1990s, when the industry was struggling to keep afloat. Van Wyk said the rise of pelt prices since 2002 was also a sign of the recovery of the industry.”If the trend continues, the karakul industry will once again become one of the most important pillars of farming in the southern parts of the country,” he said.According to Van Wyk, pelts sold at an average price of N$500 at the Copenhagen auction, compared to N$200 in the past.He said the higher prices were attributed to increased demand in the Asian markets, such as Russia and China.Van Wyk believes the challenge for karakul farmers at the moment is to keep up the quality and increase the number of pelts produced to meet the demand in the Asian market.He said communal farmers contributed 20 per cent of the pelts sold in Copenhagen.The Karakul Board held its annual dinner on Wednesday night to reward top producers.Hans George Von Hanse scooped the highest award, the Golden Lamb Award, while JT Meyer was the top pelt producer.Malcolm Campbell of Lovedale Farming received the Copenhagen Fur and Agra Quality Prize – a trip to Copenhagen – for producing more 500 pelts a year over a period of five years.Among the top 10 prizewinners were GT Karstens, Lovedale Farming, JT Meyer, J Grobbelaar, JH Duvenhage, Gabriel Biwa, PJ Van Der Westhuizen, A&H Farm Partners, GR Von Wielligh and JD Moeller.Johannes Fleermuys received a prize as a token of appreciation for his involvement in the Karakul industry.Van Wyk said the rise of pelt prices since 2002 was also a sign of the recovery of the industry.”If the trend continues, the karakul industry will once again become one of the most important pillars of farming in the southern parts of the country,” he said.According to Van Wyk, pelts sold at an average price of N$500 at the Copenhagen auction, compared to N$200 in the past.He said the higher prices were attributed to increased demand in the Asian markets, such as Russia and China.Van Wyk believes the challenge for karakul farmers at the moment is to keep up the quality and increase the number of pelts produced to meet the demand in the Asian market.He said communal farmers contributed 20 per cent of the pelts sold in Copenhagen.The Karakul Board held its annual dinner on Wednesday night to reward top producers.Hans George Von Hanse scooped the highest award, the Golden Lamb Award, while JT Meyer was the top pelt producer.Malcolm Campbell of Lovedale Farming received the Copenhagen Fur and Agra Quality Prize – a trip to Copenhagen – for producing more 500 pelts a year over a period of five years.Among the top 10 prizewinners were GT Karstens, Lovedale Farming, JT Meyer, J Grobbelaar, JH Duvenhage, Gabriel Biwa, PJ Van Der Westhuizen, A&H Farm Partners, GR Von Wielligh and JD Moeller.Johannes Fleermuys received a prize as a token of appreciation for his involvement in the Karakul industry.