Africa-Press – Namibia. THE poultry sector in Namibia has seen tremendous growth over the past years, growing from an estimated N$536 million in 2016 to N$1,2 billion in 2021, but cheap imports are reportedly corroding this market to a collapse.
According to the latest issue of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) newsletter, despite the growth in the industry being exceptional at 124%, there are emerging import risks that the government should investigate.
This significant growth has been due to an increase in the number of small and medium enterprise (SME) poultry producers and their produce.
According to NAU agricultural economist Bertha Iyambo, the union had changed the constitution to allow even the smallest of poultry producers to be members of the union, resulting in the significant growth.
Currently, this progressive sector is under threat from cheap imports of poultry and poultry products into Namibia, which is likely to negatively affect the domestic market and even worse, hit the SMEs much harder.
“There is a voice in numbers and as a union, we intend approaching the minister on the issue of the huge and cheap imports of eggs into the country which is killing the industry,” Iyambo said.
Already in 2021, the influx of imported eggs caused a stir in the local market, leading to a reduction in production. This year, it has reached such levels that producers had to further lower production.
“Currently, some producers are operating at layer capacity of anything between 50-80% and even had to lay-off some employees,” said the union newsletter.
SMEs are not spared as they are losing their clients to cheaper imports, with which they are unable to compete, said Iyambo.
“We, therefore, ask the government to investigate this matter and safeguard the local poultry sector from collapse,” she said.
The Poultry Producers Association is an affiliate of NAU.
Last month, agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein called for more intensified private and public investment in irrigation agriculture if the country is to be self-sufficient in food security.
He also called for a fully diversified and integrated agricultural sector.
He pointed out that agriculture is a key contributor to inclusive growth, a source of food and nutrition security, and an anchor for future prosperity for Namibia, which supports the livelihoods of about 70% of the country’s population.
For poultry, the minister had said plans were also in place to implement the poultry value chain development scheme.
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