Staff Reporter
SHEEP producers will meet in Mariental on 22 July 2026 to discuss the possible establishment of a producer-owned company aimed at increasing participation in the sheep value chain and strengthening the long-term sustainability of the Namibian sheep industry.
The discussions form part of a broader process initiated following a 2024 Livestock Producers’ Organisation (LPO) Congress mandate, which tasked the organisation with exploring opportunities for greater producer involvement in processing, marketing, exports and value addition. Subsequent consultations and investigations conducted in 2025 and 2026 identified potential business models and ownership structures that could allow farmers to take a more active role in the sector’s value chain.
The Namibian sheep industry, particularly in the south, has long been regarded as one of the country’s strongest small-stock production regions, supported by established auction systems, export infrastructure and access to international markets. However, stakeholders note that the sector remains heavily dependent on a single export market, which exposes producers to external economic, policy and climatic risks.
Against this backdrop, producers will now consider the feasibility of forming a collective, producer-owned enterprise that could expand market access, improve coordination across the value chain and enhance local value addition. The initiative is also expected to explore opportunities linked to existing export infrastructure and potential investment models.
The Mariental meeting will focus on key themes, including producers’ long-term vision for the industry, possible business structures, ownership mechanisms, and the potential development of a sheep export abattoir. A presentation by Cirrus Capital will outline possible business models and participation frameworks for producers.
Participants will also assess the opportunities, risks and long-term implications of increased producer involvement in processing, branding, marketing and export activities, as well as the level of producer appetite for moving forward with such an initiative.
Expected outcomes from the discussions include agreement on the sector’s shared vision, consideration of business structures that ensure producer control, and decisions on the next steps required to further investigate and develop the concept.
Organisers say the meeting is intended not only to explore infrastructure or investment opportunities, but to define the future role of producers in the value chain and strengthen the competitiveness and profitability of the industry.
Sheep producers have been urged to attend and participate, as outcomes from the session could shape the long-term direction of the Namibian sheep sector.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Contributed
