Northern livestock auctions expose quality gap

Livestock auctions in the northern communal areas (NCAs) generate income for farmers, but poor animal condition and limited market knowledge are reducing earnings, agriculture officials say. Immanuel Eelu, a senior official in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform at Eenhana, says there is a critical need for training in livestock production and marketing in the NCAs. Eelu, who served as auctioneer at a livestock auction held at Bravo Gate in the Oshikoto region on Saturday, says many farmers in the NCAs still focus more on crop production than livestock, although animals are also a key source of livelihood.

“More still needs to be done. Information sharing and training related to livestock production is critical to our farmers in the NCAs,” Eelu says.