By:Annakleta Haikera
The Kavango East and West farmers unions are happy with the prospects of livestock marketing following the opening of the Rundu Abattoir.
The farmers expressed their excitement during a consultative meeting held on Wednesday with the Meat Cooperation of Namibia (Meatco).
Meatco’s bid to manage the government abattoir was successful, and it is currently testing slaughter at the facility in Rundu.
Thomas Nyambe, Vice Chairperson of the Kavango East Farmers Union, expressed his excitement and said:”Four years ago Meatco executives invited KERFU and KWRFU leadership to a meeting and during that meeting, Meatco expressed interested to operate the Rundu abattoir upon its completion.”
He said Meatco also pleaded for backing from KERFU and KWRFU to operate the abattoir, adding that company has developed a Meatco Northern Communal Areas strategy, where a dedicated subsidiary will be established to operate abattoirs in Northern Communal Areas (NCA) on behalf of Meatco.
“The Rundu abattoir will operate for a maximum of 20 years. We will be happier if 80% of vacancies at the abattoir should be reserved for the locals. This is because records show that where Meatco operates, majority employees are locals both skilled or unskilled,” Nyambe said.
Meatco Chief Executive Officer, Mwilima Mushokobanji, said the company continues to acquire lucrative African and international markets to benefit producers in the northern communal areas.
Mushokobanji said Meatco is exporting meat to Ghana and Angola and are still finalising their penetration of the Middle East market, which he said has higher volumes and is more competitive.
He also indicated that government has a “buy local” strategy to compel companies winning supply tenders to source meat from NCA farmers.
The abattoir is currently test-slaughtering 60 cattle per week, but it has the capacity to slaughter up to 100 cattle per day.
Through the NCAsubsidiary, Meatco is currently operating the Katima Mulilo Abattoir, which is owned by government.
Meatco also serves NCA farmers through their Mobile Slaughter Abattoir stationed at the Matumbo Ribebe Quarantine Camp situated 50 kilometres west of Rundu.