Communal farmers are encouraged to register their livestock to support Namibia's meat market and contribute to economic growth.

Speaking in an interview with NBC News, the marketing manager at the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia, Desmond Cloete, outlined the key requirements and practices farmers should follow to access and supply formal markets.

First thing, they need to be registered with the board as livestock producers. Secondly, these farmers must have a valid stock brand, meaning that at the end of the day it will show ownership of those cattle, and the livestock board number that they are getting as a producer number actually is the key for you to enter the formal market. So those farmers, those are two bigger requirements, or the most important requirements, that they need to adhere to."

He explained how farmers can gain access to certified abattoirs.

"Farmers need to discuss with agent of the abattoir the procurement officer because in many cases the farmer might not have enough cattle to make a full load cause transport cost is one of the biggest cost that erodes on your budget. So the agent what he will do is that if there is farmers from the same area, they will then organize a pool transport were all this farmers will bring their cattle together at one place and they will load them on that truck to reduce unit cost for farmers." 

A communal farmer from Eiseb Block in Omaheke, Kamakotje Marenga encouraged fellow farmers to modernize and upgrade their farming techniques.

"So I urge each and every young and upcoming farmer out there that whatever you do, do it with effectiveness. If you are a commercial weaner producer producer, do it in a modern commercialized, sustainable and affective manner. Let us transition from this old subsistence way of farming to a modern way of farming and another thing is we should become consumers within ourselves although we are at that point."

Farmers are urged to conduct thorough research and reach out to the Board for assistance.