The Beef Value Chain Forum (BVCF) has approved N$500 000 to bring an international expert to Namibia to help the country regain its foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-free status and reopen beef export markets.
Savanna Beef Processors chairperson Mecki Schneider revealed this in a letter dated 25 October to its shareholders and BVCF members.
Schneider says the money will help secure an expert to work with the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) on an application to the World Organisation for Animal Health.
Schneider says the forum’s steering committee unanimously approved the funding as a contribution from the livestock industry.
He says the initiative would benefit all Namibian abattoirs that export beef.
“The BVCF steering committee unanimously approved N$500 000 to finance this specific task as an industry contribution,” he says.
Schneider says restoring Namibia’s veterinary status is the first step towards reopening international beef markets following the FMD outbreak reported last month.
“This is of utmost importance and would be the first step to get access again to our international markets, which are country-specific,” he says.
Schneider says agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani has instructed her team to approach the European Union (EU) for support in bringing the expert to Namibia.
The decision follows discussions between Savanna Beef management, the agriculture ministry, the DVS and other livestock industry stakeholders.
Schneider says the company met Zaamwani last Thursday to discuss the impact of FMD and possible solutions.
The meeting was attended by agriculture ministry executive director Petrus Nangolo, chief veterinary officer Kennedy Shoombe and other veterinary officials.
Savanna has also engaged the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia, the Agricultural Union, the EU and German embassies, and representatives of the FMD support fund.
Schneider states that all the consulted organisations support the idea of bringing in an international expert to assist Namibia in regaining its veterinary status.
