Meatco, Unil bolster farming in rural communities

The Meatco Foundation and Unil from Norway undertook an inspection and assessment visit to the Omaheke and Otjozondjupa Regions for a brief spell during the month of August to present the delegation what work the foundation and community members have accomplished.
According to Meatco Foundation Executive, Kingsley Kwenani, seventy-five households in the Peke-Peke area near Gam in the Otjozondjupa Region will benefit from a recently sunk borehole, as farmers in this area often have to travel between 7 and 12 kilometres to reach a water point Kwenani told the delegation.
The borehole is fitted with a diesel-powered pump, providing cost-effective and sustainable water flow on a daily basis. The farmers in the area, most of who produce for Meatco, share boreholes.
The borehole is linked to a trough providing water for cattle and a separate tap for domestic use. The beneficiaries formed water point communities to take responsibility for the management and maintenance of the water points.
Water is essential for life and as such humans have always settled close to water sources. Unfortunately in many communities water is scarce or contaminated. Providing a better water supply significantly improves the quality of life and is a source of socio-economic development.
He added that the project was in line with the Foundation’s vision to lead sustainable developmental interventions within rural cattle farming communities
In the Omaheke Region, Meatco through the Meatco Foundation in collaboration with Unil successfully completed the construction of a crush pen at Helena. “The crush pen represents a long-term investment in the rural community and contributes to sustainable throughput for our abattoir,” Kingsley said.
The multi-purpose pen allows the community of Helena and surrounding areas the chance to not only market and sell their animals, but also to use it for other purposes like vaccinations. The community sees this development as a step in the right direction in terms of alleviating some of the problems experienced by farmers in the area.
Eivind Wang, Head of Unil’s Buying Division, expressed his pleasure at the completion of the projects and was keen to see animals from communal farmers exported from the new crush pen to land on a plate in Norway.
“Contributing towards more farmers having access to the market for their livestock is something we are very happy and proud to be a part of. We are keen to trace an animal sold from this crush pen all the way to Norway,” Wang said.