By Deon Schlechter
WINDHOEK – A roadmap that would harmonise the marketing activities of the livestock producers with the meat industry is to be launched on Thursday in Windhoek. The roadmap would assemble all players in the Namibian meat industry under one umbrella, under which they would work towards a common vision.
“I do not think we have a competitive advantage. I think we are in a position where we should look at how we can obtain a competitive advantage, instead of asking how we can maintain it,” said the general manager of the Meat Board, Paul Strydom.
Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, John Mutorwa, would launch the meat industry’s new initiative.
The initiative follows last year’s comments by the Meatco Chief Executive Officer, Vekuii Rukoro, who said the Namibian meat industry is fragmented and needs to work together to achieve a competitive advantage for Namibia as a cattle and beef producer.
Rukoro had said the industry needs to come together and adopt a joint vision for beef production and obtain a competitive advantage. “We should see Namibia as one actual beef producer, one value chain and a unit with sections. All stakeholders should have a single vision and support each other through the process, right from the farm to when the animal is finally marketed,” he said then.