Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) is scouting for new beef markets to address price disparity concerns raised by farmers from the Northern Communal Areas (NCA).
The NCA, which comprises of Zambezi, Kavango East, Kavango West, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana and Kunene regions, is a livestock-rich part of Namibia with approximately 1.6 million cattle representing 64% of the national cattle herd estimated to be at 2.5 million.
However, Namibia’s beef market is currently seized with concerns over the price disparity between the producer prices paid to livestock producers south and north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF).
Meatco CEO Mwilima Mushokabanji said on Thursday the price disparity is influenced by the realisation from the markets that differs from those achieved from the abattoir SVCF and that of the NCA.
“The company is working on improving realisation through market diversification and demand, paying competitive producers for the same quality delivered by farmers in the NCA,” he said.
“We requests patience from NCA farmers as more viable markets are developed to improve producer prices through higher market returns. Discussions on these markets are at an advanced stage and are expected to be operational by the end of the year. These markets include African markets, Middle East Countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Quatar, Kuwait and Oman,” the Meatco CEO said.
Mushokabanji said the company is seeking Halaal certification and also targeting South East Asia markets such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia as potential markets, with strategic partners having visited the Meatco facilities to ascertain the viability of exporting Namibian beef into Asia.
“The application for Halaal certification according to the requirements of the Gulf Cooperation Council is in progress,” the Meatco CEO said.
This comes as the meat processor, through its Katima Mulilo Abattoir, shipped 14 tonnes of beef to Ghana for further distribution in West Africa.
“The Ghanian markets is still a developmental market that still requires further development as it is expected to grow exponentially. Meatco has the potential to export meat and meat products derived from animals raised from the NCA into more viable markets,” he said.
“Botswana and South Africa continue to enjoy beef sales in this market. Preliminary studies indicate that commodity prices in these markets are comparative to those achieved in South Africa. MeatCo will continue to explore and develop these markets to its full potential so as to contribute to increased market access to the best advantage of NCA farmers.”
