Chinese-invested abattoir enhances Namibian farmers' access to commercial markets

Source: Xinhua| 2020-12-20 18:17:24|Editor: huaxia

by Ndalimpinga Iita

WINDHOEK, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Iita Mateus farms cattles and small livestock at a far-flung village in the Oshana region in the northern part of Namibia. Like many farmers, he struggled to access formal markets, especially along the commercial supply value chain since a local abattoir had been closed since 2016.

But the reopening of Oshakati Eloolo Abattoir, jointly managed by local partner KIAT Investment Holdings and Chinese invested Ningbo Agriculture Investment Group has sparked hope for local farmers.

Jason Emvula, president of the Namibia National Farmers Union, said that the opening of the Oshakati Eloolo Abattoir marks the end of the protracted suffering of the farmers and producers in the northern communal areas.

"The abattoir opens at a time when the cumulative effects of the prolonged formal marketing inactivity and the droughts have taken its toll on farmers," Emvula said.

Intrinsically, the operationalization of the abattoir factory plant ushers in great relief to farmers in northern communal areas who could not formally market their cattle since 2016.

"We hope to sell our livestock. It motivates us to do better," Mateus said.

Calle Schlettwein, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, said that the opening of the Oshakati Elolo Abattoir forms part of the Beef Value Chain Development Project in the northern communal areas of the country. It involves the upgrading and construction of abattoirs and meat processing facilities across the northern communal areas.

"The reopening of this abattoir will support the government policies and strategies to facilitate market access of livestock and livestock products as well as the development of the beef value chain in the communal areas of our country," he said.

Complementary, the opening of the abattoir is also set to yield multiple benefits for locals.

Paully Lipinge, the Chief Executive Officer of KIAT Investment Holdings, said that the livestock sector plays a crucial economic and socio-cultural roles for the wellbeing of all Namibians.

"As such, the-opening of Oshakati Eloolo Abattoir is set to improve livelihoods and better living standards of our communities through employment," said Lipinge.

According to Lipinge, the Oshakati Eloolo Abattoir has 50 permanent employees, and the production has started successfully. When on a full swing, the number of permanent employees is expected to increase to 80, and around 20 casual workers, all will be Namibians.

"We are committed to putting first performance and service delivery at the top of our agenda to provide the much-needed markets for the livestock producers in Namibia," Lipinge said.

Moreover, the collaboration with the Chinese-invested Ningbo Agriculture Investment Group presents significant economic opportunities for the two countries.

Zhuang Caizeng, manager from Ningbo Agriculture Investment Group, said the operationalization of the abattoir through a joint venture is mutually beneficial to both countries.

"We will export northern Namibia cattle and mutton to China, increase foreign exchange reserves for the country, and bring many job opportunities to the people. With the joint efforts, we will turn Namibia into a first-class animal husbandry, production, processing, and export country in a short time," Zhuang said.

In the interim, plans are underway to increase the abattoir capacity from its current 70 to 250 per day.

"Besides operation at the abattoir, Ningbo company plans to work together with local farmers to raise grass and cattle to create job and business opportunities for Namibia further," Zhuang added.

Namibia, as one of the very few countries on the continent, has gained access for its beef in the Chinese market. "This is an important bilateral development in trade relations between Namibia and China," Schlettwein said.

The Beef Value Chain Development for Northern Communal Areas Project is an important building block under the Namibian government's Growth at Home Strategy, the National Agricultural Policy, the Fifth National Development Plan, Harambee Prosperity Plan and national blueprint Vision 2030. Enditem

KEY WORDS:
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011100001396048161