The objective of the Livestock Market Efficiency Fund is to improve incomes to livestock producers in the Northern Communal Areas (NCAs) and to ensure the continued growth of the livestock sector. It is expected that this objective will be achieved through improving livestock marketing, eliminating barriers to existing and new markets and improving the marketability of livestock for broad application to the livestock industry in the NCAs in order to ensure the competitiveness and sustainability of the livestock sector.
Given the lack of disease-free status in the NCAs and limited market access, farmers are restricted in the formal marketing of animals. Combined with the open access grazing systems, poor market incentives lead to overstocking of rangelands and degradation of the resource base, and consequently to poor livestock nutrition and productivity. The estimated average off-take rate in the NCAs is only 7%, compared to 25% in the regions south of the Veterinary Cordon Fence.
The Livestock Market Efficiency Fundshould therefore impact on the livestock-producing communities in the NCAs through demand-driven Actions that will improve the incomes of livestock producers. This will enable the livestock producers to overcome the constraints of a lack of flexibility and efficient market outlets, and a poorly-functioning communal land tenure system.
The LMEF has awarded seven (7) Grants through two (2) Grant rounds.
The funds of the LMEF have now been fully committed and no further Calls for Proposals will be made.
The following links provide summaries on the awarded Grants.
AWARDED GRANTS
The Development of Export Opportunities for Beef Products from the Caprivi
Baseline Survey of Animal Nutrition in the Northern Communal Areas of Namibia
SeroEpidemiological and Parasite Survey in Livestock in the NCAs of Namibia
Unleashing the Potential of the Livestock Sector in the Oshana and Ohangwena Regions
Creation of fire breaks around and inside Kopano and Katima Quarantine Farms
