Staff Reporter
NAMIBIA’s livestock sector is showing measurable progress, with the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) improving governance, financial stability, and operational discipline, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Minister Inge I. Zaamwani said during Meatco’s Annual General Meeting in Windhoek.
Addressing the meeting, Zaamwani highlighted the strategic role of Meatco in driving the red-meat sector’s contribution to Namibia’s GDP, targeting 6% by 2030 in line with the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6). She said that while the turnaround journey is ongoing, the corporation’s financial stability boosts farmer confidence, strengthens rural economies, and reinforces Namibia’s reputation in global beef markets.
The minister emphasised the critical importance of vigilance against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), which threatens trade, jobs, rural incomes, and international market access. She called on producers, transporters, auction operators, abattoirs, and community leaders to uphold biosecurity, movement control, and traceability measures.
“Even with government efforts, FMD prevention is not a fight for authorities alone — it is a national responsibility. Namibia’s reputation as a top-quality beef producer took decades to build and can be lost in a moment,” Zaamwani said.
She also reiterated the importance of partnership in the livestock industry: government providing oversight, Meatco ensuring processing capacity and market access, and producers supplying the livestock that sustains the value chain. Inclusive growth, she said, is central to long-term resilience across the Veterinary Cordon Fence.
Zamwani praised producers for their resilience amid climate shocks, rising costs, disease risks, and global market volatility, and urged continued compliance and collaboration to strengthen the sector. She concluded by affirming government’s commitment to disciplined management, disease control, and unity across the value chain to safeguard Namibia’s red-meat industry for future generations.
Photos: Contributed/File
