Farmers launch N$50m war chest to shield livestock industry from FMD
Patience Makwele Namibia’s four recognised farmers’ unions have united to raise N$50 million to help protect the country’s livestock industry from the growing threat of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), warning that a single outbreak could cripple export markets, threaten rural livelihoods and deal a major blow to the national economy. The fundraising campaign forms part of […]
Patience Makwele
Namibia’s four recognised farmers’ unions have united to raise N$50 million to help protect the country’s livestock industry from the growing threat of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), warning that a single outbreak could cripple export markets, threaten rural livelihoods and deal a major blow to the national economy.
The fundraising campaign forms part of the newly established FMD Support Fund, which has already secured more than N$12 million in pledges from farmers’ unions, agribusinesses, financial institutions and industry partners.
The initiative was launched in Windhoek on Thursday alongside a nationwide awareness campaign under the theme “One Nation. One Herd. One Responsibility.”
Speaking on behalf of the four organisations, Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers Union (NECFU) president Ndahafa Nghifindaka said the livestock sector could only be protected through collective action.
