NAMIBIA's Goat Export to South Africa Is Estimated to Be Around 250 000 Animals Annually

Goat Exports to SA On the Rise
New Era (Windhoek)
NEWS
September 7, 2005
Posted to the web September 7, 2005
By John Ekongo
Windhoek

NAMIBIA's goat export to South Africa is estimated to be around 250 000 animals annually, generating approximately N$6 million in revenue.

According to Roger Paskin, the manager for trade at the Meat Board of Namibia, the export of this livestock contributes to Namibia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as millions are realised from these sales each year.

Currently Namibia's on-the-hoof goat population stands at two million and half of these animals are found in the northern regions, just beyond the veterinary cordon line north of Tsumeb. The rest are scattered in different parts of the country, especially in the South.

Despite this positive trend, Namibia's local consumption of goat meat is on a lesser scale, with the bulk of the goats or close to 100 percent goats being reared mainly for the export market in South Africa.

One of Namibia's largest goat exporters, Dirk Potgieter, says that it is not cost productive to farm with goats for local consumption purposes. This is largely due to the fact that there is no market for goat meat in the country. Goats, according to the farmer, fetch a higher price in South Africa depending on the size and breed, thus bringing in much-needed capital flow.

Namibians are not fond of goat meat, with almost no slaughtering facilities in the country. Farmers in the country say compared to sheep, goats have no market at all. Secondly, the input and output prices are not comparative, which ultimately forces the farmers to concentrate on rearing sheep for consumption whilst goats are mainly reared for export.

"The price of goat per hoof is almost the same as the price of sheep slaughtered in the country. The problem is that when you slaughter a goat, you are destined to get absolutely nothing in return. It is therefore viable to export it live at this moment," added Potgieter.

Half of the meat produced by goat farmers is destined for Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa, mostly imported for ceremonial purposes. Although Namibia has lately attempted to export goats to European markets, the EU market remains a very tight market with all the stringent conditions to be met, apart from its fluctuations that make it uncertain. The goat export to South Africa, according to Agra Cooperative Manager for Small Livestock Pieter Hugo, of late has been overwhelming, thus the auction prices of a goat in the kg range of 30-45, will fetch close to N$500.

Hugo points out that with the current upswing in prices, farmers especially in the communal areas have realised the potential in exporting goats but at the same time, the situation has left communal farmers at the mercy of the middlemen who negotiate prices, only to resell at heftier amounts at organised auctions.

According to Hugo, communal farmers are largely not well informed on the prices, thus they receive less than what is due to them.

Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) manager for commodities Herald Marggraff says that his organisation has a policy in place that caters for the export of goats to South Africa, of which one is encouraging communal farmers to bring their goats to auctions, thus providing them with a good market related price.

As regards the promotion of goat export, the institution has already started with a few incentives. "The bleeding value of a goat per hoof is what attracts the exports of this commodity to South Africa. The demand is high for goat exports even higher than our supply."

He cites that a farmer is guaranteed a hundred percent return when exporting live goats to South Africa.

Figures provided to New Era indicate that at national livestock auctions, prices during July stood at N$10,31 per kg and the price per hoof (head) was estimated at N$467, but prices can go as high as N$500 per goat.

Currently, it is understood that the figure for the month of August and September stands at N$17 per kg, according to Agra Cooperative.

Although a small number of these goats also find their way to the Indian communities, where they are imported for ceremonial purposes, currently Kwazulu-Natal remains the biggest market for Namibian goats.