Namibia's livestock industry could lose an estimated N$1,6 billion in revenue in the final quarter of 2026, if the current Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) restrictions continue.
The President of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) Vetumbuavi Mungunda made these remarks during NCCI's donation of N$1,5 million to the FMD Support Fund in Windhoek on Friday.
Mungunda said continued FMD restrictions could result in revenue losses between October and December 2026, with the cattle value chain accounting for N$1,27 billion and the sheep value chain at N$195 million.
In 2025, Namibian livestock farmers together with meat processing and leather manufactures are said to have produced goods worth about N$6 million while the broader livestock value chain contributed nearly N$7,9 billion to the economy.
Mungunda said if livestock product export suspensions are extend beyond six months, between 15 to 20,000 jobs in the agricultural sector may be lost.
“It is in this regard that the NCCI, in cooperation with the FMD Task Force and in alignment with our mandate as Namibia's premier voice of business in support of national containment and recovery efforts.”
The Chairperson of the Fund Medmillan Handura stated that over the past two weeks the fund has directed more than N$2,5 million towards surveillance, roadblock enforcement and vaccination to contain the FMD outbreak.
“We are equally grateful to the funds placed on the National FMD Task Force. That seat ensures that private sector funding is directed towards the same priorities set by DVS and the task force, rather than being offered piecemeal.”
Minister of Agriculture, Fish, Water, and Land Reform Inge Zaamwani added.
“Contributions towards this fund support critical interventions, including surveillance, biosecurity, awareness campaigns, and the provision of essential equipment required by teams working on the ground. I therefore encourage other businesses, industry associations, corporate institutions, and well wishers to consider supporting this national effort.”
The NCCI further donated another 100 thousand dollars as a seed capital to help support the livelihoods of small-scale traders of meat products. such as kapana vendors, however the modalities of how the support will be rendered and administrated to these traders are yet to be worked out and formalised.