KERFU in support of Government’s intention to remove Red Line

RUNDU, 18 JUL – The Kavango East Regional Farmers Union (KERFU) is in support of Government’s intention to remove the Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF), commonly known as the Red Line, and wants it moved to Angola.
The union’s position on the issue was made public by its Chairperson, Adolf Muremi during a press conference on Wednesday.
Muremi added that the physical removal of the VCF should immediately be coupled with the changing of laws and policies restricting the movement of livestock and livestock products from the northern side of the country to the south.
“Our union will always support initiatives from the government which are aimed at improving the health status of our livestock, since this will in turn lead to our livestock products accessing better markets,” stressed Muremi.
Early this month, President Hage Geingob reiterated Government’s intention to see the Red Line removed for the majority of Namibians to be integrated in the country’s lucrative beef industry.
Muremi highlighted that the union would also like to see the moving of the Red Line to the border of Namibia and Angola.
“Moving the VCF have long been on our agenda. We are therefore not in support of those refusing moving it to the Namibia-Angola border citing grazing as a reason,” said Muremi, adding that they believe the grazing issue can be addressed separately.
He noted that the two regions, Kavango East and Kavango West have abundant grazing land but have serious problems with markets for its livestock, as well as price discrimination due to the Red Line.
“With the gazetting of small-scale commercial farming units in Kavango East and West, many livestock farmers are farming commercially, but face price discrimination as a result of the VCF undermining the investments they have made in their farming enterprises,” the chairperson said.
Furthermore, he called upon the Directorate of Veterinary Service in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry to complete the construction of Shamangorwa Fence as a way to separate Foot and Mouth Disease-prone areas into blocks.
(NAMPA)