THE Livestock Producers' Organization (LPO) held its Congress in Windhoek on 9 October 2018 where Piet Gouws was re-elected as chairman for another term.  Congress also gave feedback on its activities over the past year.

According to the Namibia Agricultural Union's latest newsletter, Goliath Tujendapi of the Meat Board spoke about livestock marketing while Meatco’s Acting CEO Jannie Breytenbach informed the Congress about Meatco's turnaround strategy and performance for the last six months.

At the same congress, Dr. Johannes Shoopala of the Directorate of Veterinary Services gave feedback on diseases and Namibia's animal health status.

Harald Marggraff, NAU's Commodity Manager, used the event to inform and motivate producers to comply with FANMeat's standards. In addition, Bertha Iyambo, the newly appointed agricultural economist at NAU, presented the cost production index and indicated how the high weaner prices are putting cattle producers in a better position, but that effective farming is still needed to survive.

Wildlife issues were also on the agenda with Pauline Lindeque of Agra Provision giving an insightful talk about the initiatives launched to realise more value on game meat. Study towards the development of a vaccine against kudu rabies continues, and the research is expected to continue under the guidance of Rainer Hassel of the University of Namibia Veterinary School.

The small stock marketing scheme (SSMS), which brought the small stock industry to its knees, generated heated debate with representatives of the sector pushing for the implementation of the Ombudsman’s recommendations.

The Ombudsman recommended to the Meat Board that the SSMS should be abolished and, in addition, that the ratio requirements must be waived for a period of not less than three years for the Meat Board to monitor the impact on the restoration and economic recovery of the sheep sector.

Ombudsman John Walters also visited the Congress and, unfortunately, could not indicate the minister's response to the recommendation.