Meatco assumes management of Rundu Abattoir, boosting livestock market in Northern Namibia

NAMIBIA – In a significant development aimed at bolstering the livestock market in Namibia’s northern communal areas (NCAs), the government has handed over the management of the newly refurbished Rundu Abattoir to the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco).

This move comes in response to a directive from the Cabinet to revitalize the dormant abattoir and establish an official slaughter market for farmers in the northern regions, including Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Kavango East, and Kavango West.

The Agriculture Minister, Calle Schlettwein, announced that a substantial investment of N$40 million has been made in refurbishing the Rundu Abattoir.

As a result, the facility now has the capacity to slaughter between 80 and 120 cattle per day, along with the capability to handle small livestock.

This expansion in capacity is expected to provide a formal market for livestock producers not only in the immediate region but also from neighboring areas, such as Kavango West and Ohangwena.

For many years, farmers in these regions struggled to find formal markets for their cattle due to the lack of abattoirs capable of processing a significant number of livestock daily.

The revival of the Rundu Abattoir, alongside the already operational Katima Mulilo Abattoir, is set to address this challenge in the NCAs’ livestock market.

Minister Schlettwein emphasized the significance of this development in advancing the agricultural sector, especially in the context of the beef value chain development program within the NCAs.

The program’s primary goal is to create diversified marketing opportunities, both domestically and for export, for meat produced in the region.

“Farmers must have an opportunity to trade with their animals, and the best way is to round them up to high-quality slaughter-ready animals, which subsequently assure the throughput of the abattoirs,” he stated.

Meatco’s Chief Executive, Mwilima Mushokabanji, assured farmers that the Rundu Abattoir is in capable hands under Meatco’s management and pledged to offer competitive prices.

 “The challenge of the NCAs has never been production… The challenge was access to markets,” Mushokabanji noted.

In addition to the Rundu and Katima Mulilo Abattoirs, the beef value chain development program integrates various infrastructure elements within the NCAs, including auction kraals and abattoirs at strategic locations.

These facilities, like Oshakati Abattoir with a daily slaughter capacity of up to 220 cattle, are designed to facilitate the smooth flow of the beef value chain.

With the Rundu Abattoir’s revival and Meatco’s involvement, Namibia takes a significant step towards enhancing its livestock market, supporting local farmers, and contributing to the economic development of the northern regions.

The establishment of an efficient and accessible slaughter market promises a brighter future for the livestock industry in this vital part of the country.

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