Auleria Wakudumo
The Namibian government and the European Union (EU) have officially launched the Etunda Feedlot, valued at approximately N$78.9 million.
This key agricultural development, located at the Etunda Irrigation Scheme near Ruacana in the Omusati region, aims to boost productivity, increase market access and improve income for farmers in the Northern Communal Areas (NCAs).
The feedlot will accommodate up to 1 000 cattle and forms part of a wider EU-funded livestock development programme, valued at N$400 million.
It is implemented by the ministry of agriculture, with the National Planning Commission as the contracting authority.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, the European Union chargé d’affaires Ian Dupont, described the initiative as a symbol of the ongoing partnership between Namibia and the EU.
He said the project supports sustainable and inclusive development.
“Our goal is to help strengthen systems so that communal farmers can access both regional and international markets like the Southern African Customs Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area,” he said.
The agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani welcomed the feedlot as a key part of Namibia’s broader goals to achieve food security, reduce poverty and promote climate smart livestock practices.
She noted that the facility would improve the way communal farmers operate by connecting them more efficiently to commercial markets.
“The Etunda Feedlot is set to function as a vital offtake point under the Commodity-Based Trade system. It will provide easier access to commercial value chains and help lower transport and service costs linked to abattoir usage and cattle marketing,” she stated. This facility is one of the seven infrastructure developments being rolled out under the livestock support programme.
Other ongoing projects include upgrades of abattoirs, the establishment of artificial insemination centres, the development of auction pens and the construction of quarantine facilities.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the initiative is also investing in fodder production, livestock traceability systems and farmer training.
The minister said these efforts are focused on helping communal farmers meet veterinary health standards, particularly in managing diseases such as foot and mouth disease and lumpy skin disease.
“The veterinary cordon fence continues to serve as a vital disease control barrier in northern Namibia,” she said. The communal farmers welcome the feedlot and said it comes after years of struggling with low market access and limited infrastructure.
The executive member of the Namibia National Farmers Union in Omusati Sylvanus Naunyango stated that farmers have long faced challenges that go beyond just cattle numbers.
With the feedlot at Etunda, farmers now hope to not only access better markets but also gain new skills and knowledge.
“We see this not only as a facility, but as a centre for learning and economic opportunities. I urge all stakeholders to speed up construction so the benefits can reach farmers sooner,” he said.