BEIJING – The agriculture ministry has lauded the partnership between Namibia and China in the sphere of beef exports, which has yielded progressive results with sufficient scope for growth.
The executive director (ED) in the ministry, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, told New Era that the Chinese market is the world’s fastest-growing, specifically in the meat and beef sectors, as greater affluence in that space is positively associated with increased consumption of mostly animal protein.
“China is a significant off-taker of beef from Namibia (approximately 40 containers per annum), with sufficient scope for growth,” she confirmed.
Nghituwamata said due to dietary preferences in the Chinese market, it is a taker of mostly front quarter, bone-in cuts, which increases the value of front quarter cuts and realisable revenue for the Namibian economy.
“The figure fluctuates annually, depending on configuration and if the offer is bone-in or not. In 2022, approximately 920 tonnes of beef was exported to China. This figure is expected to grow, as more Chinese clients place orders at competitive prices for Namibian beef,” said the ED.
Meatco is currently the only approved facility to export beef into China from Africa. The meat-processing and marketing entity sources from all producers in Namibia, north and south of the veterinary cordon fence (VCF). The beef sourced and produced south of the VCF can be exported to international markets such as Norway, EU, USA and China, whilst that procured north of the VCF is distributed to the domestic and African markets.
Nghituwamata added that Namibia, known for its excellent quality beef, has to ensure there is a match between product specification and consumer preference.
She stated: “The closer the two, the better the quality. In meat, on top of taste, appearance and other organoleptic characteristics of beef, food safety concerns are spelled out in health certificates, which constitute a further tenant of beef quality”.
She said the ministry is continuously involved in extension services with farmers to ensure they produce market-ready livestock.
“Through the Livestock Support Programme funded under the European Development Fund 11, we are engaging stakeholders in the livestock value chain in the NCAs to capacitate them from livestock production, support to market infrastructure, as well as market exploration for the NCAs meat,” added Nghituwamata.
To strengthen the partnership between the two countries, there is a definite need to review the agreed MoU with China to make trade easier for Namibian exporters and producers, and for Namibian delegations in China to represent the interests of Namibian exporters as well as promote agricultural exports, particularly on beef.
In a recent interview with New Era, Namibia’s Ambassador to China Elia George Kaiyamo said one of his mission’s mandates was to ensure Namibia exports beef to China, and he is happy with the progress made thus far.
“Namibia is the only African country allowed to bring beef to China, and our other bilateral relation is on education. We have an agreement to bring students here to study so that they can apply the knowledge they have acquired here back home,” he added.
– psiririka@nepc.com.na