Launching the Livestock and Meat Industry Common Vision

On 19 February 2015 a milestone was reached in the history of the local meat industry, when the Livestock and Meat Industry’s Common Vision was launched by the Honourable Minister John Mutorwa, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry.

The Livestock and Meat Industry’s Common Vision serves as a blueprint intended to harmonise livestock producers’ marketing activities, assembling all players in the Namibian meat industry under one umbrella working actively towards a common goal.

Initiated by the Meat Board of Namibia, stakeholders met in July 2013 to compile a Common Vision and Action Plan for the industry. Their strategic plan, together with the national development plan, served as the departure point. The purpose of this collective vision is to strive towards a shared goal by bringing together diverse interests into an accepted vision in a balanced way. This shared vision was developed through numerous individual stakeholder consultations and forums where role players had the chance to present their input.

The common vision addresses five action plans that are important to the livestock and meat industry, namely:

• Animal health and welfare, and food safety
• Production
• Value addition
• Marketing and product trade
• Industry consolidation

Hon. Mutorwa congratulated the Meat Board in facilitating the process to solve industry threats and trends through dialogue between the parties, rather than tasking the authorities to make industry decisions. He said he wholeheartedly supports the implementation of the common vision and said he would “direct the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry to assist with the implementation thereof.”

The Meat Board’s Chairperson, Patricia Gurubes said: “The Common Vision is an important process to sustainably grow the local meat industry on a competitive level, not only for the industry but also for the entire country.”

Meatco’s CEO, Adv. Rukoro, who suggested that harmony in the industry is needed, also propagated the idea of a Common Vision. Once the document was formalised, the CEO shared his enthusiasm saying: “I am delighted that after various consultations, consensus was reached and the Livestock and Meat Industry’s Common Vision was adopted.

“This is a significant milestone for the industry. The challenge now is for the identified role players to carry out their task in terms of implementing the agreed upon action plans. Until then, and unless all the stakeholders actively maximize the strengths and opportunities identified – whilst working to eliminate any weaknesses and threats – the vision will remain elusive and merely be a piece of paper in ‘File 13’. Meatco will live up to their commitments in this regard and we will deliver.”

Photo caption: Hon. John Mutorwa, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry officially launches the Livestock and Meat Industry’s Common Vision booklet. Standing with him is Meat Board Chairperson Patricia Gurubes.