Published June 01, 2010 06:14
Meatco Namibia is facilitating the development of 70 crush pens currently being constructed in Namibia’s Northern Communal Areas (NCAs). The N$13 million European Union (EU) funded crushpens will be erected in the following regions; Kunene (12), Oshana (10), Omusati (9), Oshikoto (12), Ohangwena (9), Kavango(16) and( 2 )for Tsumkwe –West.
The crush pens will be located within 30 km radiuses per region, reducing the trekking distances of cattle in the communities. The crush pens will be used for various activities such as marketing of animals (loading and off-loading), branding, vaccinations, dehorning and sorting of animals.
Traditional authorities were involved during the site identification processes as part of Meatco’s intend of bringing services closer to the farmers. To date a total of 28 sites crush pens have been completed and are in use the Oshikoto, Omusati and Oshana regions.
Upon completion, the pens will be handed over to the traditional authority of each region to ensure usage by community members under the supervision of the authority. The crush pens will be constructed with steel to ensure durability. They will be fitted with an adjustable loading ramp to suit all trucks and/or vehicles for loading and off-loading of animals.
Some of the added advantages of the crush pens are:
• Bringing Meatco’s services closer to the famers;
• Improve the quality of the product (reduce “trekking” distances) and, consequently, increase the net income for the producer, which will in turn contribute to the uplifting of living conditions in the surrounding communities and
• Ease animal handling during branding, vaccination, dehorning, sorting, loading and off-loading etc.
Additionally, Meatco has been buying cattle on the hoof in the field in the northern communal regions. Meatco procurement officers in the region now visit producers at their respective villages or farms at no extra cost. The aim is to provide assistance with the selection of cattle that are suitable and ready for marketing, the officer will help weigh the cattle and arrange for payment.
The officers further play a critical role in advising communal farmers with cattle marketing, whether the cattle are fat enough and or suitably weighted. The experienced officers will assist the producers with information that will help producers in making the right decision. Further, Meatco renders a transport service at very competitive rates to producers in the Northern Communal Areas with the transportation of their cattle from various locations in the regions to the Meatco abattoir.
Editor’s Notes:
• The NCA comprises of the following regions: Oshana, Omusati, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Kavango, Kunene and Katima.
• Trekking is the moving of animals on foot.
The crush pens will be located within 30 km radiuses per region, reducing the trekking distances of cattle in the communities.