Meatco Foundation gives back
(R to L)Noag Tjitua one of the bulls beneficiaries, receives his handover certificate from Meatco’s Executive for Policy Innovation, Stakeholder Relations and Corporate Affairs, Vehaka Tjimune. Photograph by Meatco
The recipients,were selected from a line up of Meatco producers, meaning they are all producers who had signed contracts to deliver cattle to Meatco for slaughter.
The 13 bulls of various breeds were donated to different farmers in communal areas whose livelihood depend on farming in areas such as Otjohorongo and Otjimbingwe in the Erongo Region, Grootberg in the Kunene Region, Okamatapati, Ovitoto and Okakarara in the Otjozondjupa Region, and Otjinene in the Omaheke Region.
The Meatco Foundation allocated similar bulls to communal farmers in the Northern Communal Areas (NCA) earlier this year for the same purpose with support from the network organisation Danish Coop.
Vehaka Tjimune, Meatco’s Executive for Policy Innovation, Stakeholder Relations and Corporate Affairs said, “The bulls are part of the Meatco Foundation’s Sustainable Cattle Production in Namibia initiative with the main objective to promote and support improving the socio-economic conditions in the communal livestock sector. Through this, we hope to improve the quality of herds in the communal areas as well as improve the quality of weaners and slaughter stock.”
Earlier in March, the Meatco Foundation allocated two Bonsmara stud bulls to the Omuramba communal farming community in the Kunene Region. The Foundation also constructed a crush pen in that area.
“I can’t think of any other scheme where communal farmers SVCF benefited from a bull scheme, except in instances where they had to buy the bulls at a subsidised price, as per the Government Bulls Scheme. In our case, the bulls are paid for 100% by the Meatco Foundation and supporting partners. The communal producers don’t pay for anything and this is why this gesture is such a great one,” Vehaka said.
