IGAD keen to adopt Namibia’s livestock strategies
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) centre for pastoral areas and livestock development in Eastern Africa wants to adopt some of Namibia’s livestock strategies in its member states.This follows a recent benchmark visit to Namibia to learn about the export-oriented strategies Namibia has adopted.
Namibia is one of the only three countries in Africa that exports to the European Union under the Economic Partnership Agreement, and together with Botswana, it holds a 3 200 tonne deboned beef quota under the European Free Trade Association to Norway.
It is also the only country that has access to export deboned beef under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to the United States.
IGAD is a body of eight member states: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.
Learning curve
According to the Meat Board of Namibia, the visiting delegation to Namibia consisted of members from the private sector that are involved in meat and feedlot value-chain businesses in the region.
The 13-member delegation visited various key stakeholders in the Namibian livestock and red meat value chains.
The objectives of the visit included showing delegates the operations of Namibia’s export abattoirs, the operations and strategies of feedlots supplying export abattoirs with livestock, and the concept, good practices and lessons from Namibian livestock auctions.
The delegation also learned about the Namibian Livestock Identification and Traceability System (NamLITS).
Looking in
The delegation visited the Meat Board’s offices, where they learned about its mandate and received an overview of the Namibian livestock and meat industries.
The itinerary also included a visit to the Namibia National Farmers' Union (NNFU), Feedmaster, Meatco, Ovitoto communal area, a Windhoek livestock auction in Hochfeld, and a trip to a Hochfeld feedlot.
During their visit to the NNFU, CEO Kuniberth Shamathe explained the role of the union as well as the activities implemented to address member needs.
At Feedmaster, the delegation witnessed the manufacturing of lick and feed products first-hand, while at Meatco, a highlight was attending slaughtering operations.
"The delegation was extremely impressed with the highly coordinated operations along the value chain and is determined to lobby IGAD member states to adopt some of Namibia’s strategies to promote and galvanise their respective industries," said the Meat Board.