10 May 2018

Feasibility study of a community abattoir in Sehithwa for Nhabe Agricultural Management Association (NAMA) has been completed.

The main objective of the study was to determine the viability of the project of a community abattoir for NAMA.

NAMA is a farmers’ association for both livestock and arable agriculture producers operating in communal areas of Ngamiland.

The association has been allocated a piece of land near Sehithwa to construct an abattoir.

The NAMA chairperson, Mr John Benn confirmed in an interview that the consultant engaged to conduct the study already had submitted the final report.

He said the information provided by the study should give NAMA factual basis for deciding to go on with the project that is hoped to generate income and improve the socio-economic status of the catchment area or choose another development option for the allocated land.

Mr Benn explained that they were happy with the outcome of the report and thanked the UNDP for the great support in making the association to realise its dream.

He said UNDP had fully sponsored the study and also organised some benchmarking trips for some members of the association.

He observed that a team comprising of some key stakeholders and farmers recently embarked on a benchmarking trip to Durban and Eastern Cape in South Africa to learn, exchange ideas and copy the best practices on how to run a successful community abattoir.

“During our stay there we learnt a lot and we appreciated different types of structures of abattoirs.

I was really impressed as we had fruitful discussions which we believe would benefit us going forward,” he added.

Mr Benn also thanked the ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security for their immense support.

He said they intended to commence the construction of the abattoir early next year stressing that NAMA would like to comply with the new Veterinary regulations requiring that all livestock must be slaughtered in licensed slaughter facilities.

He said although they had not secured funding for the project, they were hopeful as some farmers had already pledged some cattle towards the construction of the structure.

The project, he said, needed over P80 million.

The main goal of the community abattoir would be to slaughter livestock from the Sehithwa communal area, which is the most densely populated livestock area in the whole district.

The chairperson also said the project would also reduce monopoly in the district.

The project, he said, would also meet the interest of the farmers as many would graduate from poverty through selling of their cattle.

Mr Benn said the next stage would be to conduct Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and also focus on ensuring availability of water at the site. ENDS