Namibia to boost small-stock processing

NAMIBIA is aiming at increasing its local sheep slaughtering capacity and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development has approved certain measures pertaining to the import and export of certain products.

In line with Government notice no 129 of 2004 published under the Meat Industry Act, the Meat Board, in the interests of the meat industry in Namibia will regulate the smooth implementation of the policy. These measures will specifically effect the export of sheep from Namibia and are in line with Cabinet’s and the board’s initiatives of supporting local value-addition.The new policy entailed some restrictions on the export of sheep on the hoof.”It is envisaged that by applying these measures throughout at export abattoirs they will be optimally utilised and can be adjusted as new capacity is being established in the country,” said Strydom.Currently, out of the 1, 1 million sheep produced in the country per year, Namibia slaughters between 30 and 35 percent, while the rest is exported to South Africa on the hoof.Strydom said the Meat Board wanted to increase its sheep slaughtering capacity to between 50 and 60 per cent and that the new measures would see the full utilisation of local capacity.Since the meat industry is highly dynamic and market interference needs to be minimised, Strydom said a technical committee comprising key players such as abattoirs, producers, exporters and Government will be established by the Meat Board in order to advise it on local slaughter capacity and utilisation.These measures will specifically effect the export of sheep from Namibia and are in line with Cabinet’s and the board’s initiatives of supporting local value-addition.The new policy entailed some restrictions on the export of sheep on the hoof.”It is envisaged that by applying these measures throughout at export abattoirs they will be optimally utilised and can be adjusted as new capacity is being established in the country,” said Strydom.Currently, out of the 1, 1 million sheep produced in the country per year, Namibia slaughters between 30 and 35 percent, while the rest is exported to South Africa on the hoof.Strydom said the Meat Board wanted to increase its sheep slaughtering capacity to between 50 and 60 per cent and that the new measures would see the full utilisation of local capacity.Since the meat industry is highly dynamic and market interference needs to be minimised, Strydom said a technical committee comprising key players such as abattoirs, producers, exporters and Government will be established by the Meat Board in order to advise it on local slaughter capacity and utilisation.