By Dominic Sikopo
NEWLY upgraded Katima Mulilo and Kopano quarantine facilities were officially handed over to the community at Liselo some 12 Kilometers West of Katima Mulilo on Thursday.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry Mr. Joseph Iita Officiated the hand over ceremony .In his opening statements he said, the upgrading of the quarantine was made possible with the support from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the United States Government through the Millennium Challenge Account Namibia (MCA-N).
The MCA-N is currently supporting a number of projects in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry. Mr. Iita , Permanent Secretary explained that in the Caprivi region alone there are four other projects that are receiving support which are Northern Communal Area (NCA) Foot and Mouth Disease(FMD) and Lung sickness Freedom Project, Sero-epidemiological and parasite survey in the Northern Communal Areas(NCA) in Namibia, Development of export opportunities for beef products from the Caprivi region and creation of fire breaks around and inside Katima and Kopano Quarantine.
“All these projects are aimed at promoting food security and improved marketing of livestock particularly cattle in the Caprivi region”, said Mr. Iita. He explained that over 80% of the population in the Caprivi region derives their livelihood from agriculture and their livestock contributes more than 70 % of the income .The cattle census in the Caprivi region stood at 140, 000 in 2012. Some 12,000 cattle are annually slaughtered through Meatco Katima Mulilo abattoir and farmers earn in excess of N$26 million.
According to him , Caprivi region remains prone to outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) because of the presence of Wild African buffalos which are carriers of the FMD virus. “My Ministry continues to implement control measures that include mass vaccination, movement control, and quarantine to control this disease”.
He continued saying “the northern Communal areas (NCA) Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Lung sickness Freedom Project will investigate strategies and prepare an implementation plan to rapidly deal with outbreaks and reduce waiting period for livestock marketing in future”, he stressed .
He added that quarantining of cattle is an essential component of the formal marketing of cattle in the Caprivi region to enable beef exports.The P.S further said that the upgrading works at Katima and Kopano quarantine farms included the renovation of ten staff houses, upgrading of infrastructure at entry/exit sections and water points and connection of electricity to Kopano quarantine farm to the tune of N$7,3 million.
“This will certainly go a long way to promote marketing of cattle in the Caprivi region and the farmers in the region will be the ultimate beneficiaries”, he said.“My Ministry and indeed the government of the Republic of Namibia would like to express our sincere appreciation to the United States government through the Millennium Challenge Corporation for the support which led to the successful conclusion of this project to upgrade the two quarantine farms”, he concluded.Meanwhile , Mr.Steven Dobrilovic MCC Resident Country Director, MCA –NAMIBIA Chief Executive Officer Ms. Penny Akwenye and Caprivi Regional Governor Lawrence Sampofu witnessed the ceremony and all delivered their speeches.