FMD costs Namibia's livestock industry N$150 million weekly
Foot-and-mouth disease restrictions disrupt Southern African Development Community trade, threatening farmers' incomes and export markets.
Namibia's livestock industry is losing an estimated N$150 million weekly due to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), according to Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) President Thinus Pretorius. The disease and associated movement restrictions are disrupting trade across the Southern African Development Community (SADC), impacting farmers' incomes, employment, and access to export markets. Namibia's weekly losses include N$118 million from cattle, N$26 million from sheep, and N$6 million from goats.
Farmers continue to incur operational expenses for salaries, fodder, and fuel while livestock marketing remains disrupted. Pretorius stated that the regional cattle population of approximately 29 million animals is exposed to the economic consequences of FMD. The Namibian government has allocated N$180 million to combat the disease, an amount Pretorius contrasted with the industry's estimated monthly losses of N$655 million. Approximately 265,000 jobs are at stake.
Restoring export market access could impact economic growth by an estimated 5% to 6%. Namibia's beef exports, approximately 94% of which go to markets like the European Union and Norway requiring FMD-free status without vaccination, are particularly vulnerable. The country's feedlot industry has grown significantly, with 63 feedlots registered with Meatco, supported by favourable export conditions that previously allowed Namibian livestock prices to exceed South African prices by up to 30%.
Why it mattersNamibian farmers face significant financial losses and job insecurity due to FMD restrictions impacting livestock sales and export market access.