Farming can be a major contributor to Namibia’s economic development provided that all agricultural value chains are fully developed, Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Executive Director Percy Misika has said.
Misika made the remarks in a statement read on his behalf during a workshop of the European Union-funded Livestock Support Project (LSP) aimed at improving livestock farming in the Northern Communal Areas (NCA) at Opuwo on Tuesday.
He said Namibia’s livestock value chain can be fully developed to produce finished products including dairy products; dried, chilled and canned meat products; hides, skins and finished leather products; and many other by-products.
Misika stated that the ministry is seeking to revive the local tannery industry, noting that there is a need for a complete paradigm shift in order to improve the NCA livestock industry, starting from producer level and through the entire value chain.
“Farming is a business and the Livestock Support Project seeks to support livestock farming as a business,” he said, adding that the project further aims to address climate change challenges in order to establish a certain degree of resilience for farmers.
The LSP also seeks to amplify fodder production efforts, establish feedlots and double the ministry’s knowledge creation in nutrition and rangeland management through training and awareness in the NCA.
Misika further noted that the project will only succeed with farmers’ support and full cooperation.
“I, therefore, implore our NCA livestock producers and all other key stakeholders such as the Namibia National Farmers Union (NNFU) and cooperatives to join hands with the ministry to mobilise farmers to utilise these resources we are intending to bring to their disposal. I will be counting upon your care to ensure sustainable utilisation thereof,” the executive director said.
Ngatuuane Farmers Union vice president Ben Kapi welcomed the project, stating that it will benefit NCA farmers. He however indicated that government institutions such as prisons, hospitals and schools should be the major consumers of their products in order for it to be a success.
“If we set up these feedlots and abattoirs, this should also mean that government should stop importing products from the other side of the red line,” Kapi said.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
