THE Farmers’ Meat Market (FMM) at Mariental which was closed in August 2020 is on its way to recovery.
The closing of the abattoir put an end to the processing of sheep. including for the export market.
However, the NAU says a lot has taken place after the closure of the abattoir.
“The closure was followed by a rough period in the history of the small livestock industry, with export restrictions, a devastating drought, and a resultant drastic contraction of the sector,” the union says.
The only export market access for farmers during this time involved sending sheep on the hoof mainly to South Africa.
The Mariental abattoir was then taken over by the Hartlief Group, a division of the Ohlthaver & List Group, in 2021, and they have been working hard to re-establish trust among sheep producers and to export quality Namibian mutton.
On 31 August last year, the abattoir launched its first trial run to process sheep for export to Norway, and in November 2022 the abattoir received its recertification for export and slaughtered its first lambs.
With this lifeline, the facility dispatched its first shipment of lamb to Norway in January 2023, the NAU says.
The road to recovery started in January 2021 when the NAU, the Livestock Producers’ Organisation (LPO), producers, Hartlief and FMM formed a committee to investigate the viability of exporting mutton.
Within a few months thereafter, Hartlief and the LPO made huge efforts to sensitise livestock producers, the government and all other stakeholders in the industry and to support the facility on its way to recovery.
The abattoir has, however, experienced challenges.
The NAU states that new European Union (EU) legislation requires livestock producers who deliver animals to an EU-approved abattoir to receive a visit from a state veterinarian once a year.
This requirement has ruffled some feathers.
“However, with efforts from the Hardap Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) and FMM staff, this challenge has been met and the process is now running smoothly,” the newsletter says.
The agricultural union said challenges still remain in the //Kharas region in this regard, but with the cooperation of all stakeholders, these issues will be addressed.
The newsletter says producers must have a DVS certificate regarding farm inspection and a DVS certificate regarding negative blood test results for Brucella melitensis.
“The usual conditions relating to the Namlits system – movement permits, ear tags and the disinfection of vehicles – apply,” the union says.
In addition, vendor registration must be complied with, and export lambs must have A1-3 and AB1-3 grading with a minimum weight of 17kg (dry season 16,5kg).
The union says by the end of January 2023, FMM had already processed payment of N$10,9 million, excluding value-added tax, for 46 producers with an average of 17,9kg at an average price of N$91,60 per kilogramme.
Payment terms are 30 days.
“Of the 6 615 sheep slaughtered, 86% achieved A-grade, and 12% were AB-grade,” the NAU says.
At least 48% of animals delivered were export lambs, with 82% in A1-3 and 18% in AB1-3 grade with an average weight of 19,6kg and a price of N$97,7/kg.
The total number of sheep slaughtered by the end of January 2023 was made up of 68% dorper, 32% MeatMaster and 15 fat tail sheep.
The abattoir employs 82 people, but plans expanding to 100 employees this year.
The union says going forward, FMM plans to deliver 400 tonnes of bone-out quota to Norway in 2023, with bone-out exports to Bermuda and the EU, also starting in 2023.
The China bone-in market will hopefully realise by the end of 2023.
Middle East bone-in markets such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar will kick off by the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024.
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