Windhoek: Namibia's beef industry continues to demonstrate resilience and maintain access to lucrative international markets despite challenges posed by climate change, disease outbreaks, and rising production costs. This is according to Agribank Technical Advisor for Livestock and Rangeland, Erastus Ngaruka, in an overview of the country's beef industry shared on Monday.According to Namibia Press Agency, Ngaruka said agriculture remains one of Namibia's key economic sectors, contributing about five per cent to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while more than 70 per cent of the population depends on it for food, income, and employment. 'The agriculture sector is primarily dominated by livestock production value chains, mainly cattle, sheep, and goats,' he said.He noted that Namibia's livestock industry benefits from strong governance structures and disease control systems overseen by the Directorate of Veterinary Services and the Livestock and Livestock Products Board. 'The greater part of the country is classified as a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)-free zone with export status,' Ngaruka explained. This status has enabled Namibia to access high-value export markets such as the European Union, the United Kingdom, Norway, China, and Mauritius. He added that Namibia remains the only African country certified to export beef to both the United States of America and the European Union.Ngaruka further said Namibia's free-range beef production system provides a competitive advantage in global markets. 'This free-range beef status is a critical selling point for Namibian beef,' he said. However, he warned that communal farmers continue to face major production constraints, including limited access to finance, land, technology, and markets. 'Many communal and small-scale farmers located in remote areas face difficulties in accessing information, production inputs, and markets for their products,' he noted.The report also identified FMD as one of the greatest threats to the industry, particularly due to ou tbreaks in neighbouring countries. 'Should FMD be detected in the free zone, the consequences would be devastating, resulting in major losses in production, markets, and income at all levels,' Ngaruka cautioned. He further said rising fuel prices, electricity costs, and recurring droughts continue to increase production expenses and place pressure on farmers. Ngaruka called for coordinated efforts to strengthen rangeland restoration, improve access to affordable finance, and enhance support programmes for farmers in order to sustain the country's beef industry.