This follows a successful audit of the abattoir and selected farms by Woolworths. Farmers south of the Veterinary Cordon Fence, that divides Namibia’s beef producers into an internationally recognised FMD-free zone to the south and an endemic zone to the north, already have their beef on the chain’s shelves.
Although NCA beef isn’t yet exported to high-yield markets like the EU because of stringent sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, it is sold within the Southern African Development Community. According to Meatco’s manager for the NCA, Cyprianus Khaiseb, this is a milestone for the company and Namibia’s beef industry.
“It has proven that not only can we sell meat from the communal areas to a high-end retailer such as Woolworths SA, but we have earned the privilege to be able to differentiate and sell our product in the premium space in these stores as well,” he said.
Meatco will pay producers a free-range premium that will amount to 30c/kg above the Meatco producer price and which will be payable to all producers delivering to its Oshakati abattoir who meet the free-range requirements, said Khaiseb.
