WINDHOEK – Since the beginning of the year, the increased portion of the Norway quota allocated to Meatco benefited Namibian producers through increased prices and initiatives for improving market access and socio-economic conditions.
Selma Shipanga, communication officer of Meatco, says from February 1 to August 31 this year, Meatco increased its overall producer price by N$6.95 per kilogramme compared to the same period last year. The average producer price during the 2014 period amounted to N$29.78 per kilogramme. This figure stood at N$22.83 per kilogramme last year in the same period.
“For producers residing in the northern communal areas (NCA), Meatco increased the overall producer price by N$9.14 per kilogramme when compared to the previous year. During the period under review, the average producer price amounted to N$26.74 per kilogramme compared to N$17.59 per kilogramme for the corresponding period in 2013. In addition, Meatco invested an extra N$28.6 million into NCA operations because of overall operational losses during this period.
For weaners procured at the Okapuka feedlot, Meatco managed to increase the producer price by N$2.99 per kilogramme compared to the previous year. This year the average price paid for weaners at the Okapuka feedlot amounted to N$16.88 per kilogramme, compared to last year’s price of N$13.89 per kilogramme.
“We managed to increase these weaner prices while their live export was effectively halted due to a decision by the South African government to increase import requirements on live cattle. Had Meatco not had the means to extract additional value from the lucrative Norwegian market, the overall Namibian weaner price would have decreased significantly.”