Meat processor offers farmers better prices

SHEEP farmers in the South were delighted when the newly established Brukkaros Meat Processor (BMP) abattoir pledged to offer prices competitive with those offered in South Africa.

Government has restricted live exports of small livestock in order to have more sheep slaughtered at local abattoirs and promote local value addition. However, farmers believed the policy only benefited the abattoirs, claiming that South African market prices were much higher than those paid locally.Announcing the offer at a meeting attended by farmers and the BMP board of directors on Monday, BMP Trade and Procurement Manager Chris Harmse said the company wanted to establish a win-win relationship with farmers.The BMP abattoir has been in operation for about six months following its takeover of Karas Abattoir and Tannery.Also speaking at the meeting, BMP Board Chairman Dr Frans Indongo vowed that his company’s objective was to meet the farmers halfway.”We’ll not enrich ourselves at the expense of sheep producers, since we believe that our success depends on the success of the sheep producers,” he said.Indongo encouraged farmers to support BMP to ensure a bright future for small-stock farmers.He condemned a recent ‘expert study’ report – compiled at the request of sheep farmers – which accused abattoirs of profiteering at the expense of farmers.”We doubt the accuracy of the said report, since most of the country’s abattoirs struggle to stay afloat,” Indongo said.Gruenau Farmers Association Chairperson Louis Potgieter appealed to BMP to work in collaboration with farmers on a pricing formula that would benefit both parties.”The stakeholders need to design a pricing formula on which a justifiable price would be calculated,” he said.He pledged that farmers would ensure full-capacity slaughtering at BMP if it offered reasonable prices.However, farmers believed the policy only benefited the abattoirs, claiming that South African market prices were much higher than those paid locally.Announcing the offer at a meeting attended by farmers and the BMP board of directors on Monday, BMP Trade and Procurement Manager Chris Harmse said the company wanted to establish a win-win relationship with farmers.The BMP abattoir has been in operation for about six months following its takeover of Karas Abattoir and Tannery.Also speaking at the meeting, BMP Board Chairman Dr Frans Indongo vowed that his company’s objective was to meet the farmers halfway.”We’ll not enrich ourselves at the expense of sheep producers, since we believe that our success depends on the success of the sheep producers,” he said.Indongo encouraged farmers to support BMP to ensure a bright future for small-stock farmers.He condemned a recent ‘expert study’ report – compiled at the request of sheep farmers – which accused abattoirs of profiteering at the expense of farmers.”We doubt the accuracy of the said report, since most of the country’s abattoirs struggle to stay afloat,” Indongo said.Gruenau Farmers Association Chairperson Louis Potgieter appealed to BMP to work in collaboration with farmers on a pricing formula that would benefit both parties.”The stakeholders need to design a pricing formula on which a justifiable price would be calculated,” he said.He pledged that farmers would ensure full-capacity slaughtering at BMP if it offered reasonable prices.