The challenges facing Namibia's cattle producers

Despite the fact that Namibia is an arid country, farmers there continue to run profitable beef operations. However, profitability margins are decreasing. Janine Ryan reports.

- Janine Ryan

Namibia is the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa, thus its agriculture sector relies largely on groundwater. Despite the high temperatures and the scarcity of water, Namibian farmers have been raising beef cattle successfully for many decades.

As of November 2020, around 70% of the country’s population rely directly or indirectly on agriculture for their incomes, and this industry is also one of Namibia’s biggest employers.

Excluding fishing, agriculture’s contribution to Namibia’s GDP averaged 4% over the past five years; in 2019, it’s contribution to GDP was 6,6%. Meat processing comprises 0,2% to 0,4 % of GDP.

According to Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, livestock farming contributes around 66% to agricultural production in Namibia, and livestock production (particularly that of beef) is largely export-driven (see table).

South Africa is Namibia’s largest import partner, and food products account for most of these imports. Other critical import partners include the Netherlands, Germany, Russia and Morocco. In 2019, Namibia exported around 12 400t of meat, mostly to the US, Europe, South Africa and China.

Commercial farming and subsistence farming dominate the country’s agriculture sector.

The commercial sector is run on more than 44% of land, while subsistence farming is run on 41% thereof.

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Cattle are mostly produced in the northern and central parts of Namibia, while sheep production is mainly concentrated in the southern area of the country. The most popular beef cattle breeds in Namibia are Brahman, Bonsmara, Simmentaler and Simbra.