Meatco invests in Omaheke and Otjozondjupa communities

19 Aug 2016

The Meatco Foundation and Unil from Norway undertook an inspection and assessment visit to the Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions from 9 – 11 August 2016 to show the latter what work the foundation and community members have accomplished.

Water in Otjozondjupa

Seventy-five households in the Peke-Peke area near Gam in the Otjozondjupa Region will benefit from a recently sunk borehole. Farmers in this area often have to travel between 7km and 12km to reach a water point.

The borehole is fitted with a diesel-powered pump, providing cost-effective and sustainable water flow on a daily basis. The farmers in the area, most of who produce for Meatco, share boreholes. The borehole is linked to a trough providing water for cattle and a separate tap for domestic use. The beneficiaries formed water point communities to take responsibility for the management and maintenance of the water points.

The water tanks that will feed water to a tap for domestic use and the drinking hole made to cater to Elephants in the area so as not to cause damage to the tanks

The water tanks that will feed water to a tap for domestic use and the drinking hole made to cater to Elephants in the area so as not to cause damage to the tanks

Water is essential for life and as such humans have always settled close to water sources. Unfortunately in many communities water is scarce or contaminated. Providing a better water supply significantly improves the quality of life and is a source of socio-economic development.

The pipeline to supply over 72 households with water before it was put underground

The pipeline to supply over 72 households with water before it was put underground

According to Meatco Foundation executive Kingsley Kwenani, the project is in line with the Foundation’s vision to lead sustainable developmental interventions within rural cattle farming communities.

Marketing in Omaheke

In the Omaheke Region, Meatco through the Meatco Foundation in collaboration with Unil successfully completed the construction of a crush pen at Helena.

“The crush pen represents a long-term investment in the rural community and contributes to sustainable throughput for our abattoir,” Kingsley says.

The multi-purpose pen allows the community of Helena and surrounding areas the chance to not only market and sell their animals, but also to use it for other purposes like vaccinations. The community sees this development as a step in the right direction in terms of alleviating some of the problems experienced by farmers in the area.

Eivind Wang, head of Unil’s buying division, expressed his pleasure at the completion of the projects and was keen to see animals from communal farmers exported from the new crush pen to land on a plate in Norway.

Eivind Wang with some of the local construction workers from Helena

Eivind Wang with some of the local construction workers from Helena

“Contributing towards more farmers having access to the market for their livestock is something we are very happy and proud to be a part of. We are keen to trace an animal sold from this crush pen all the way to Norway,” Wang says.

The projects in Omaheke and Otjozondjupa are a part of Meatco’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) – a term used to describe a company’s efforts to improve society in some way. These efforts range from donating money to non-profit organisations to implementing projects in the community.

Final touches...  A worker busy perfecting the pen

Final touches… A worker busy perfecting the pen