By: Hertha Ekandjo
Namibian egg-sellers say that the ban on the import of poultry products from South Africa can provide sales opportunities for every Namibian poultry farmer and poultry product sellers.
The Agriculture Ministry recently announced that due to the outbreak of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in South Africa, it has suspended the importation of poultry products from that neighbouring country to Namibia until further notice.
Lam Tukondjela, a poultry reseller, believes this is a chance for local poultry farmers to work hard, produce more and put out their products out there into the market and make an income.
“It is actually a good opportunity for local poultry product producers and farmers. This is bringing forth an opportunity for us to sell. Looking at this ban I understand that the South African market will also have a shortage in poultry products, which will create space for us,” he told The Villager.
According to Tukonjela, the biggest challenge in the eggs business has been the fluctuation in consumer buying power, mostly attributed to repo rate hikes.
“There has been a big change in consumers buying eggs, mostly due to inflation and increment in fuel prices, many consumers decided to take off eggs from their buying list because they now see it as a luxury,” he expressed.
Tukondjela said this has led to a decline in the number of his clients, urging others in the business to push and continue working hard.
Agricultural analyst Dobson Kwala was of the view that poultry farmers now have the opportunity to slaughter the chickens, pack them and export to South Africa.
This is one of the poultry farmers’ biggest opportunities; the demand in South Africa can deplete the chickens that are in Namibia if Namibians grab this opportunity.
Open markets are that of Botswana too, if we have enough, we can supply. If there is a proper measure that Namibia will be able to supply Botswana then we can have a market.
But one of the biggest challenges will be feed, “because the more demand you have, you will always want to have more feed in order for you to score. We are not sure how long this ban is going to be on but we need to take advantage of this opportunity.”
Local entrepreneur and poultry farmer Albert Uulenga says the ban will somehow affect them as poultry produce sellers.
“In Namibia we already don’t have enough to sustain ourselves. What we have now, we cannot sustain; it is not enough,” said Uulenga
According to him, they in the industry are challenged with the fact that their suppliers take advantage of the prices system by hiking up egg prices.
Uulenga said that the fact that the eggs are in demand and the suppliers are not having enough they set the price high.
According to him, this now leaves them with no choice but to sell eggs to their customers at high prices and slows down sales.
“The ban is okay, but there are times when prices in the country fluctuate, there are times when the prices are high and times when they are low,” he explained.
The entrepreneur mentioned that being a poultry farmer is not easy because the feedlot is very expensive, making it difficult for one to maintain poultry farming.
The Agriculture Ministry’s spokesperson, Jona Musheka, said businesses and individuals importing poultry from South Africa are not allowed for now.
Musheko said the Ministry will make sure that there are no imports of live poultry, birds and poultry products from South Africa.
He said there is no date for the lifting of the suspension, but the Ministry has received information from South Africa that things have gotten better and they have brought the virus under control.
He added that due to high demand the importers may be forced to buy their products somewhere in the world as long as there is no HPAI.
“There might be a high demand that is not served and it might also affect the prices. Namibian people should start getting engaged highly in activities of food production such as poultry and pork meat,” Musheko said.
He further said Namibians need to learn to start with small scale food production and grow their farming gradually.
He said the country can produce about 80% of what it imports from other countries and at least import 20% or less.
The country consumes an estimated 2,500 tonnes of chicken every month, relying on imports mainly from South Africa, to meet local demand.
South Africa is facing a major bird flu outbreak that poultry producer Quantum Foods said last week had killed about 2 million chickens.
Another South African poultry producer, Astral Foods said the total cost associated with the outbreak amounted to about 220 mi
