20 Dec 2021

Government has taken the decision to authorise the exportation of live cattle and facilitate the export of beef and beef products by private abattoirs as part of  efforts to promote an export led economy and continuously grow the beef industry value chain, Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development  and Food Security, Ms Beauty Manake has said.

Presenting a statement  in Parliament on Friday, Ms Manake  said over 200 000 cattle were exported to neighbouring  countries.

She noted that South Africa imported 195 000 constituting  97.5 per cent  of the total export whilst Namibia received 5 000 cattle which was 3.5 per cent  of the total export over the past  14 months.

“South East District was leading the exports  with a cumulative number of 80 000 cattle, making it 40 per cent followed by Ghanzi at  54 000 which is 27 per cent , Southern District 23  000 at 11 per cent, Kgalagadi 17 000 which is 9 per cent, Kweneng and  North East with  9 000 cattle which is only 5 per cent each and Kgatleng and Central districts with a combined total of just over 4 000 cattle,” she said.

She said the South East District was leading on the  exportation of cattle, which was attributed to the fact that it hosted the majority of  feedlots  that  exported  live cattle. The minister noted that there were seven feedlots exporting cattle in the district, and that it was also a catchment  area for  a number of production zones.

The minister noted that Namibia importers were only interested in buying market ready animals as opposed to their South African counterparts who fed their  animals before  sale, hence the low number of  exportations to Namibia.

The opening of borders  for  live  exportation of  cattle, she said,  had  brought about a  lot  of  good outcomes,  which have  impacted farmers lives  positively. She said the dispensation had afforded farmers alternative markets.

She added that the  export market had also offered farmers competitive prices for cattle in different  categories as well as prompt payments.

She noted that the export market had also created a  platform for more cattle  auctions where farmers sold their cattle  for competitive prices. She said  BMC had also  increased their buying prices in order to be competitive.

Despite the successes, Ms Manake also noted challenges which included some animals not meeting the set exportation standards and requirements.

She  said government had however,  established the  meat  regulation authority office and that it would be in operation by  March 2022 to remedy some of the challenges.  

Some of the  risks associated with  the  exportation of  cattle, the minister said, was the public perception regarding government’s commitment  to revamp BMC, which has been an anchor to the  local beef  industry since 1965.

She emphasised that government remained committed to revitalising BMC as stated in the ruling  party’s manifesto and that government would strive to include locals in the beneficiation of the agriculture  value  chain.

She said the other risk associated with the liberalisation of the beef market was the public perception that government, thorough the exercise, was exporting  jobs.

Ms Manake also said  the creation of  a sustainable  leather  park industry should be supported  by a  vibrant beef  industry, which was profitable to all stakeholders within the value chain.

She added that there was  need to capacitate  the  beef  industry led  by both the  private  sector and government.

The minister also said there was need for public  education on the  commercialisation of  the beef  industry and the  need  for other  competitive  markets to in order to ensure good market  prices and a return on investment for farmers and stakeholders  within  the  industry. ENDS