Obrein Simasiku
A 20% growth has been recorded in the first quarter of 2022 in beef exports, which points to a recovery from the long-lasting drought the country was subjected to.
According to the AgriBank’s market watch about 20,000 more cattle were sold by June 2022, adding to the year-to-date total number of cattle marketed of 121,555 compared to the 101,016 during the same period in 2021.
“The improvement is as a result of a 17% surge in live exports to 67,262 in the half year 2022 compared to 57,262 during the same period in 2021.”
The report says farmers south of the Veterinary Cordon Fence prefer live exports of weaners for higher returns. Therefore, the number of cattle marketed to local abattoirs reduced by 28% to 15,166 cattle in the first half of the year, compared to 18,933 in 2021.
However, progress is noted at abattoirs north of the Cordon Fence, where 2,048 cattle marketed in the first half of 2022 compared to 831 in 2021, thus translating to a 146% increase.
“This is in line with upbeat cattle activities, resulting from the reopening of the Katima Mulilo abattoir and the export of beef to Ghana and Angola.”
In terms of the small stock industry, a double digit growth has been realised, by recording a 33% increase translating to 378 008 heads from 284,778 in 2021, something attributed to excellent marketing, while, live sheep export continues to be the major driver of this sector, due to favourable market conditions.
“As a result sheep slaughtering was reduced by 15% in the first half of 2022, to 53 821 from 63 505 the same period in 2021.” Meanwhile, pork market is set to realize its full potential with 22 863 slaughtered by Meatco registered abattoirs, a positive increase of 4% from the 21 921. “Stable growth in the industry can be attributed to Meat Board’s initiatives under the Pork Market Share Promotion Scheme, to assist local producers with market access amidst cheap imports, states the report. The disrupted global supply of grain globally due to geo-political situation, is said to have a direct impact on the Namibian economy, as prices continue to shoot up together with the inflation rate. Namibia Agronomic Board increased the domestic wheat grain floor price by 12% in January 2022 to N$6,77.11 per ton from N$5,940.00/ton in the same period in 2020/21. Due to rising transport inflation, higher packaging material costs and reduced global supply of grain, millers in Namibia increased prices between 3%-6% in March 20
- “A hefty impact has been impeded on the global food supply chain by the Russian-Ukraine war. These two countries produce 74% of sunflower oil and 34% of wheat worldwide. A sizable amount of these products has been removed from the global markets. These supply shortages have increased the price of world food items significantly,” stresses AgriBank.
