FARMERS DELIBERATE ON CLIMATE-SMART BEEF INITIATIVE - nbc

Added: 2026-05-16

[00:00:00]The acting CEO of the livestock and livestock products board of Namabia, Goliath Tuendabi, emphasized the importance of implementing and running of the beef genomics program and highlighted the inclusivity of all breeds.

[00:00:16]>> So um my view is that someone has to take the responsibility and host um this program or house it. And in my view to Mr. is that uh the ministry of pro of agriculture, water and land reform should actually take the lead. But when it comes to the to coordination of the whole program, you as a ministry can actually um outsource that to your agents and see how best we can do it.

[00:00:46]The program should actually be inclusive.

[00:00:49]If we have to advance our genetics in this country, then it should not be only for one breed. It should for all the breeds.

[00:01:00]>> The deputy executive director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform reiterated the importance of the beef genomics program to Namibia's meat market.

[00:01:11]>> The beef genotic program is very important to the Namibia, in particular the livestock sector.

[00:01:19]As you are aware, we have a lot of climate change that have impacted our livestock sector. Therefore, with this program, we should be able to test for breeds that will provide us with quality that we need for the market and equally so that are resistant to the current drought uh that we have been experiencing and in Namibia we have excellent droughts. So for us to be able to sustain our livesto industry, we need to start testing and providing good quality bricks that will withstand the harsh condition that we are realizing in Namibia. The beef genomics program is a livestock improvement program that uses genetic technology to help farmers breed healthier, more productive, and climate resilient kettle with better meat quality.