Ondangwa
Following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Northern Communal Areas (NCA), meat traders relying on kapana and fresh meat in the contaminated areas have seen a dip in sales.
The situation is also likely to affect the cash-in of meat traders at various exhibition trade fairs expected in the northern regions between July and August.
People familiar with the industry allege that the Ministry of Agriculture Water and Forestry’s decision to have livestock movement and direct slaughter confined to 24 hours have worsened the situation.
After the FMD outbreak was reported, movement of animals and meat products, like milk and meat from the affected areas was halted.
In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture has since then also put in place preventative measures permitting the movement of livestock aimed for direct slaughter to be done within a 24-hour period under strict veterinary supervision. Meat traders say the 24-hour restriction is a burden on their businesses and restricts their ability to secure livestock for slaughter in order to keep their businesses up and running. “Getting livestock is easy, as we get these from our usual suppliers. However, getting a veterinary official is not always easy, leaving the business dysfunctional for some days,” an industry source explained.
Rauna Kalwenya, an annual participant at the Eenhana Trade and Business Expo also expressed concern over their ability to secure fresh meat.
Kalwenya, who sells meat and other food delicacies, said that meat has not been easy to secure since the outbreak of FMD in May this year.
She said her profits at the expo are heavily dependent on meat sales, but she was hopeful that they would find a way to keep the business afloat.
“Sometimes one is forced to buy meat from the supermarkets, which is very expensive. It then also forces us to up our prices, but we don’t have a choice. Perhaps this year, we will have to look at incorporating chicken and fish in order to make enough sales,” Kalwenya said.
Meanwhile, meat traders along the roads, such as the route between Ongwediva and Oshakati have also tended to become casual sellers.
FMD was first detected in the Ondama Yamunghete crush pen in Okongo of the Ohangwena Region. Since then the disease spread to other parts of Oshikoto, Oshana, with some suspected cases in the Omusati and Kavango West regions.