Monday, September 30, 2013

Namibia Agriculture Union Weekly News: 27 September 2013

Namibia Agriculture Union: NAU


Disclaimer: Although everything has been done to ensure the accuracy of information, the NAU takes no responsibility for actions or losses that might occur due to the usage of this information.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: THE WORLD IS NOT THREATENED BY BAD PEOPLE, BUT BY THOSE WHO ALLOW THE BADNESS – Albert Einstein

In today’s newsletter: 
·         Drought subsidy payment
·         Forty day residency compliance requirement
·         NAU Community project of 2012 takes over leadership
·         FA and other news

Drought subsidy payment
The NAU has received confirmation that as from Monday, September 23, 2013 the Office of the Prime Minister has started with payments of drought aid subsidies. Farmers, who have submitted claims, should receive payments on the bank accounts. 
Forty day residency compliance requirement
The following notice was already published in the newsletter of February 22, 2013 and it is very important that all producers comply with these requirements of the circular V9/2013 of Veterinary Services dated February 21, 2013.
Forty day residency of cattle and sheep is a requirement for the eventual export of fresh, chilled or frozen beef and mutton to the European Union (EU). The aim of the circular is to inform role players in the livestock sector how to comply with these requirements.
The owner of the holding should ensure that all livestock on the holding are registered on the NamLITS database, properly identified with approved identification marks and that all livestock movements to the holding and out of the holding are reconciled.
2.       All livestock keepers intending to slaughter cattle and sheep for the EU market are expected to complete the attached declaration on the animal movement permit.
3.       In terms of the declaration, livestock keepers must ensure that such animals were born in Namibia south of the Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF) or if introduced from approved areas were resident in the area south of the VCF for a continuous period of at least 90 days.
4.       The completed declaration with the fully endorsed livestock movement permit and relevant animal movement notices, must accompany the animals to the slaughterhouse.
5.       In addition, the individual cattle or sheep flock or goat herd (or individually identified ovine or caprine) should have been resident on the holding for a continuous period of at least 40 days before transportation to an EU-approved slaughter house. The counting of the 40-day period for any newly arriving cattle or flock of sheep or goat herd (or individually identified ovine or caprine) starts from the first day of arrival of such animals onto the holding.
6.       No livestock will be allowed for EU slaughter market directly from animal gathering(s) unless all animals presented at such gathering(s) are eligible for EU slaughter or they have been clearly separated. 
8.       On application for a movement permit to the EU eligible animal gathering or to the slaughterhouse, the veterinary official must interrogate the NamLITS system to verify compliance.
9.       Livestock that have met the 40-day residency requirements on the last holding can only be transported separately and directly to the EU approved slaughterhouse.
10.     Livestock that meet the 40-day residency requirements at holding of origin but going through an animal gathering shall be transported separately and directly to an EU approved slaughterhouse.
10.     The Food Business Operator (FBO) must, upon receipt of the consignment, interrogate the NamLITS database to verify the 90 and 40 day residency requirement before accepting the animals for slaughter to the EU.
11.     At the abattoir, EU eligible livestock must be kept in separate pens/ kraals from the rest of the animals not complying with 40-day residency and must be slaughtered separately.
12.     The State Veterinarian must keep detailed records of non-compliance which should include the fate of animals that would have not complied with the 40/90 day residency requirement.
13.     State Veterinarians and Animal Health Technicians are required to verify compliance to the conditions outlined above.
Producers, who want to slaughter animals at an export abattoir, must take note of the following Meatco Notice:
·         Producers will have to request the NamLITS verification list – with other words the numbers of the animals who are offloaded at the abattoir for slaughtering, timeously (at least one week before the loading of the animals). If there are any problems, they can be addressed timeously to ensure that the 90/40 days regulations are followed;
·         If the 90- and 40-days both show 0 days, the animals are not on the NamLITS system and can these animals not be slaughtered at an export abattoirs. Such animals will have to be sent back to the farm of origin and the producers will have to bear the costs.
ALL FORMS HAVE TO BE COMPLETED PROPERLY AND SIGNED AND ACCOMPANY THE FREIGHT:
Producer’s duty
·         - Veterinary - Transport Permit (completed properly)
·         - Veterinary – Departure register (2 loads, 2 permits and 2 departure forms)
·         - Meatco – Slaughtering advice (completed properly)
·         - NamLITS – 90/40 days verification list (90/40 days check)

Transporter’s duty
·         - washing certificate
·         - vehicle fitness certificate

NAU Community project of 2012 takes over leadership
An agreement between Kunene for Christ (kfC), the NAU Community project of 2012 and the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement has been signed recently at Queen Sophia. According to the agreement the project will be allocated to Kunene for Christ for 5 years. Queen Sophia is a resettlement farm of about 25 000ha in the Otavi vicinity. Since Independence various organisations, inter alia the Spanish Government were involved with the development of Queen Sophia. Various criminal activities, inter alia stock theft, have been carried out from Queen Sophia on bordering commercial farms. Kunene for Christ have decided to offer their assistance and Chris van Rooyen and his wife Jessie have been seconded to the project.

The following aims were determined together with the local community:

* Improvement of living conditions
* Leadership development
* Proper childcare
* Better health services
* Agricultural production and income earnings
* Vesting of small businesses
* Proper management of the Queen Sophia project

The slogan of the project is “Living and farming in God’s way”.

The Minister of Lands who has signed the agreement on behalf of the Ministry of Lands, Council member Abraham Job (Outjo Constituency) as well as the Governor of Kunene, Mr Joshua Hoebeb during the festivity of the signing of the document, requested the community to cooperate and work hard as it will be for their own good.

Animal Welfare training offered
The Meat Board of Namibia is offering Animal Welfare training to all livestock producers, handlers, auctioneers and transporters. The training is done by Prof Louw Hoffmann from the University of Stellenbosch who had offered similar training earlier in the year. The training is free of charge but participants have to arrange accommodation and transport themselves. The training is held at the Goba Lodge, Gobabis on October 7 & 8, 2013. A practical demonstration will be held at the Big J Feedlot, ± 15km outside Gobabis at 14:00. There is limited space only and for further details and to register contact Mr F van Niekerk, Tel 081 1270327, floris@mweb.com.na or Mr Esegiel Serogwe, Tel 061 275871, chfanmeat@nammic.com.na.
Namibia Rangeland Forum
The 2013 Namibia Rangeland Forum is held at Rundu from October 16 – 18, 2013. The venue will be announced at a later stage. Speakers are inter alia Ms Sophia Kasheeta, Mr Colin Nott, Dr Helmke von Bach, Mr Gizaw Negussi, Ms Wiebke Volkmann, Dr Christian Huelsebusch and many more. Participants have to arrange their own transport and accommodation. The registration fee is N$200 per person and will have to be paid ahead. For further details and to register contact Ms Donneline Vermeulen, Tel 061 247245, Fax 061 247390, rangelandforum2013@headspace.com.na.

Amos Meercat Schools of AMS
Amos Namibia’s next pre-primary school (Amos Meercat Schools of AMS) training sessions for women and farm workers will be held from November 25 – 29, 2013. Two simultaneous training opportunities are offered – one in Outjo and one in Windhoek. There are still openings at the Windhoek training. If you have a farm workers wife on the farm that is literate and if there are pre-school children on the farm, please consider starting an AMS pre-school on your farm. The trainings fee for the week is N$300/person and this includes three meals per day. AMS supplies all material and stationery which will be needed for the school for the year. The farmer has to supply a room as well as tables and chairs for the learners. If you are interested in this project or want to sent a woman, please urgently contact Judie Wiese, Tel 081 1271018 / 062 570316. Entries close on September 30 or when there are enough entries.

FA and other news
SWAKARA is offering the following training at Gellap Ost from October 1 – 3, 2013. The following courses are offered: beginner (slaughtering and splinting of Swakara pelts as well as basic information about the Swakara industry); standard and advanced (lasts until October 4); a wide aspect of other information, eg management of Swakara herds (ram purchases), sorting of pelts, rangeland management, market information (Swakara) as well as upgrading of other breeds for pelts production will be discussed during this week. Producers (can also bring workers) / potential producers must please register before September 23, 2013 with Johan Hartung, Tel 0812010679/ 063-223268/ hartungjow@gmail.com.
Veldduin FA is holding a farmers dance with Sticks ‘n Stones on October 5 at 18:00 at the FA hall. Entrance is N$100 for adults and N$40 for children. Pre-school children are free of charge. Included in the entrance fee is the dinner, a lamb braai. For further details contact Rensie Lewis, Tel 081 2957585 or Monia Kuhn, Tel 081 2270950.
The Namibia Agricultural Union congress will be held on October 8 at 07:30 at the Safari Hotel & Conference Centre. The theme is “Agriculture as the motive for industrialisation”. The official opening of the congress will be on October 8 at 19:00 at the Heja Lodge. As the Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO) is holding its 50th anniversary this year, an Agri Outlook Conference will be held on October 9 at the Safari Hotel and Conference Centre and the speakers are inter alia: The Minister of Agriculture, Mr John Mutorwa, the Minister of Trade, Mr Calle Schlettwein, Mr Dawie Roodt, Prof Nick Vink, Dr Wolf-Martin Maier, Prof Louw Hoffmann, Dr Japie van Zyl, Dr Willem Landman and Mr Charl Senekal. On October 10 the LPO Congress will be held at the Safari Hotel & Conference Centre and the theme is “Corner stone for growth”. For further details about the NAU Congress, please contact Erika at Tel 061 237838, evg@agrinamibia.com.na and for details about the LPO Congress and Agri Outlook Conference, contact Annatjie, Tel 061 237838, annatjie@agrinamibia.com.na.
Karibib FA is holding a meeting on November 23 at 17:00 at Kaltenhausen. For further details contact Mrs Gladis, Tel 061 248480, Doris.Gladis@elvey.co.za.
WEEKLY

Exchange Rate NAD (21-27 Sept 2013)


Sept
EURO
USD
POUND
PULA

Saturday
21
13.361
9.878
15.820
1.165

Sunday
22
13.361
9.878
15.820
1.165

Monday
23
13.269
9.832
15.769
1.161

Tuesday
24
13.272
9.838
15.745
1.158

Wednesday
25
13.439
9.931
15.963
1.168

Thursday
26
13.486
9.973
16.035
1.173

Friday
27
13.708
10.150
16.329
1.178


Saturday to Thursday:  16:00 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time)
Friday:  10:44 UTC





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