Master Plan for increased cattle and beef marketing from the Northern Communal Areas, Namibia

  

The Meat Board, after the abolishment of the Veterinary Cordon Fence Task Force, resolved to draft a Master Plan to guide role player activities in the Northern Communal Areas towards a joint goal of increasing cattle and beef marketing from the NCA. Agra Cooperative in consultation with role players conducted the study and presented the findings below.

Major Findings

•  Total off-take of cattle was estimated to be 8,17% in 2000; today it is estimated to be around 9,5%. 
• Government extension services have limited capacity to support livestock farmers to become commercially oriented cattle producers....
• Although considerable progress has been made in improving livestock marketing infrastructure, considerable gaps still exist.
•  The demand for production inputs like genetic material, feeds, licks and veterinary medicines increases while supply remains limited.
•  Rangeland condition and productivity are generally very poor.
•  Farmers' associations are poorly organised at local level in the NCA and are not much involved in supporting their members in improved production and marketing.
•  Many households own only small numbers of cattle.
•  Around 38% of cattle herds consist of cows, and the average calf-to-cow ratio for all regions is estimated to be around 44%. An average bull ratio in the whole herd is estimated at 4% for all regions, but bull ratio in the cow herd is much higher at an estimated 11%.
• Meatco currently slaughters approximately 18000 head of cattle per annum at their two abattoirs, which have a potential full capacity of 40000.
• More than 70% of cattle slaughtered at Meatco are C (old) grades, 60% are 0 and 1 fatness (lean) grades and nearly 70% are oxen.
•  It is estimated that 18800 head of cattleenter the NCAs from the south and most of them are slaughtered for the local market. Additionally, the equivalent of 10000 animals enter the NCAs in the form of cuts and processed meat.
• “Trekking” of cattle to the quarantine facilities (Caprivi) with subsequent loss in condition and weight is considered one of the biggest obstacles to farmers.

The Master Plan offers the following objectives and strategies:

1.     Farming inputs that are demand-driven and of high quality will –

·        provide effective livestock-oriented agricultural extension services

·        improve access of farmers to feeds, licks and veterinary medicines and services

·        improve access of farmers to superior breeding material, and

·        support farmers’ associations to become more functional and involved in marketing activities.

2.     Increased effectiveness and efficiency of cattle production will –

·        improve rangeland condition and productivity

·        improve herd efficiency, and

·        strengthen individual land tenure in the NCA.

3.     Enhanced marketing (locally and internationally) will –

·        increase the chilling capacity of Meatco(Oshakati and KatimaMulilo) abattoirs

·        improveuse and standards of other existing smaller abattoirs (e.g. Rundu, Oshakati)

·        upgrade Eenhana and Outapi abattoirs and support the processing of meat products at the Ongwediva Fresh Produce hub

·        assess Meatco's strategy of providing incentives for bigger carcasses

·        enlarge the marketing “window” of cattle

·        promote the supply of younger animals to abattoirs

·        promote big and small auctions.

·        improve marketing infrastructure

·        improve management of quarantine facilities (in Caprivi), and

·        continue developing the Commodity-based Trade (CBT) approach.

4.     Trans-boundary animal disease status in NCA’s enhanced and maintained will –

·        develop and implement animal disease management and eradication strategies for foot-and-mouth disease and contagious bovine pleura pneumonia, and

·        coordinate the implementation of the Master Plan through the National Consultative Livestock Marketing Forum.

5.     Monitoring, evaluation and adjustment will –

·        coordinate impact monitoring.

6.     Enhanced policy environment for increased marketing of cattle and beef will –

·        review current policies and legislation regarding cattle and beef marketing and production in the NCA.

This Master Plan will serve as a guideline for the implementation of interventions in the NCA livestock and meat sector. By doing so interventions will be focussed and will prevent duplication of activities. The Master Plan will be operated by the National Consultative Livestock Marketing Committee at regional level with involvement of all stakeholders.