By Wezi Tjaronda
WINDHOEK
The Karakul industry has a code of practice that gives assurance to traders and consumers of fur that the industry complies with internationally acceptable animal welfare standards.
Following this development, Swakara products may be granted the International Fur Trade Federation’s Origin Assured Label (OAL) status.
Bernd Rothkegal, Director of Planning in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, who represents Government on the Karakul Board of Namibia told New Era last week the federation promised that once the code of practice received Government’s approval, the products would be granted the OAL status.
Agriculture Minister Dr Nickey Iyambo announced during a gala dinner hosted by the Karakul Board of Namibia to commemorate the 100 years of existence of Karakul farming in Namibia, that Cabinet recently approved the ‘Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Karakul Sheep in Namibia’.
Iyambo delivered a speech on behalf of President Hifikepunye Pohamba.
“I trust the code will put traders and consumers of fur at ease, because it gives assurance that good practices and internationally acceptable animal welfare standards are being implemented by all stakeholders,” he said.
Rothkegal said the code of practice provides guidelines that the industry will follow as they care for and handle their sheep and its products.
The code of practice details the humane treatment of animals regarding transport and slaughtering, among many others. Rothkegal said although other countries have codes of practice, Namibia has added that it does not exploit people and environmental and other natural resources.
Due to this, he said, Namibia was one step ahead not only of the world but also of other local industries.
“We have added in the code that we do not make use of child labour and other maltreatment of labourers. We have also made reference to the New Labour Act,” said he.
The Government last year declared the Karakul industry as one of strategic importance. Iyambo said consequently the Government would not allow the export of any Karakul genetic material.
“Namibia needs to protect its intellectual property,” he said.
Iyambo added that the Government was promoting sheep farming because sheep were well adapted to harsh grazing and climatic conditions.
He said based on the 100 years of intensive Karakul farming, the Government was convinced that there was no other animal more suited than the Karakul sheep for farming in areas in the south.
The minister said he was looking forward to cooperation between the Government and its partners to create a Karakul production and training centre of excellence at Gellap Ost outside Keetmanshoop, where prospective farmers in Namibia, neighbouring countries as well as other Karakul producing countries would be trained in Karakul production.
Raimar von Hase, President of the Namibia Agricultural Union, who spoke on behalf of the Namibia National Farmers’ Union, said although the south was still looking for sustainable agricultural production to fill the gap left by Karakul pelt production, “no other domesticated animal is better adapted to this arid environment than Karakul sheep”.
Namibia exported over five million pelts in the 1970s which was subsequently drastically reduced due to a change in fashion preference and because of an anti-fur lobby that led to a near collapse of the industry.
During the dinner, winners of the farm signboard competition, the best Swakara producer and runner-up, and Kopenhagen Fur/Agra quality were given awards.
The centenary book ‘Karakul – Gift from the Arid Land, Namibia 1907-2007’, authored by Brenda Bravenboer, was also launched.