Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, officiated the opening of the butchery of the Amarika Farmers’ Cooperative at Outapi in the Omusati region this week.
This initiative will enable subsistence communal farmers to transition into commercial farming through the development of livestock farming infrastructure.
The project received funding from the Government, the European Union, and the Federal Republic of Germany. Schlettwein explained that the Amarika Farmers’ Cooperative butchery business will provide meat products to residents of Outapi Town and neighbouring communities for many years to come. A similar butchery of the same nature was established by Amarika Farmers’ Cooperative in Okahao in April 2020.
“The Amarika Farmers’ Cooperative’s dream of establishing a sustainable value-chain for their livestock has now become a reality. I have no doubt that this initiative will significantly motivate and encourage local farmers to increase livestock production and supply the two butcheries, benefiting all residents of the Omusati region,” Schlettwein said.
He further mentioned that the Okahao branch was equipped by GIZ (GIZ-F4R), which supplied meat cutters, cold rooms, display fridges, sausage fillers, working tables, and a vehicle valued at N$ 480,000. Similarly, the Outapi butchery was equipped under NAMSIP, a project within the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, with items valued at N$ 197,000, including a biltong cabinet, deep fridge, display chiller fridge, and a vacuum sealer.
“Additionally, staff members of the Amarika Farmers’ Cooperative received training funded by GIZ-F4R on meat handling, meat hygiene, and meat processing. However, due to the effects of drought, currently only 60% of the cattle slaughtered in the butchery are sourced from cooperative members, while the remaining 40% is sourced from other livestock farmers elsewhere in the Omusati Region,” Schlettwein explained.
Caption: Scenes from the opening of the Amarika Farmers’ Cooperative butchery in Outapi.
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