By Staff Reporter
WINDHOEK
Namibia’s dairy industry is set for greater heights with Namibia Dairies planning to establish a super dairy farm.
A super dairy farm is a large dairy farm with several hundred cows that uses the most modern dairy technology to ensure optimal milk production, animal welfare and environmental awareness, as well as non-compromising hygiene and quality.
Namibia Dairies Managing Director Desmond van Jaarsveld said last week his company had embarked on such an initiative to secure the future supply of locally produced milk at competitive prices.
The move will also improve Namibia’s international competitiveness by containing raw milk costs and enabling the industry to have economies of scale, modern technology and infrastructure.
Prices of milk went up twice this year in April and July in a bid to save the industry from collapsing.
Earlier, the dairy company said it had come up with initiatives, including the introduction of a super dairy farm encompassing modern production equipment and herd management systems to ensure optimal production of milk for the sustainability of the dairy industry.
Van Jarseveld said the company commissioned a feasibility study to determine the viability of such an initiative in Namibia, whose findings supported the establishment of a super dairy farm.
The farm will also strengthen the dairy industry which has for the past few years gone through some turbulent times due to, among others, unfair competition from other countries which have economies of scale.
Although the company is working to have the farm operational in the near future, Van Jaarsveld said the date is still to be confirmed.
Due to an increase in demand for long-life milk, Namibia Dairies doubled its production of UHT milk from 300 000 litres per month to 600 000 litres per month.
Namibia has 17 dairy producers with a 1.8 million litre quota per month, who together have 2 920 cows. The industry provides employment to 211 workers who support 1 300 dependants.
South Africa, Israel and Saudi Arabia have super dairy farms.