· Stage 1 measures implemented by the Meat Board of Namibia
· New fire management guidelines for charcoal industry
· FAs and other news

Stage 1 measures implemented by the Meat Board of Namibia
The Management of the Meat Board of Namibia (MBN) has sent out an urgent memorandum to inform all role players in the livestock industry that their head office in Windhoek will be closed from 10 to 26 August 2020. This action is taken as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The following arrangements have been put in place during this period
• The MBN Ear Tag, NamLITS helpdesk, producer registration and Stock Brands offices will be closed for the duration of the mentioned period;
• The MBN Classification services will be unaffected and continue as long as the export abattoirs are operating; • The MBN Border personnel will be unaffected and continue rendering border inspection services; • The MBN Finance Division will prepare and do payments only on Fridays;
• The MBN Trade Division will continue the issuing of MBN import and export permits (See website for detail – www.nammic.com.na). • The MBN IT Division will ensure 24-hour internet capability during the period.
Contact persons
All permit enquiries – Ms Beatrice Katjouanga (+264) 081 216 8823 / beatrice@nammic.com.na
All meat industry statistics enquiries – Mr Ace Mutelo (+264) 81 271 8192/ chiefims@nammic.com.na
All stock brand enquiries – Mr Johan Engelbrecht (+264) 081 122 4917/ chfanmeat@nammic.com.na
All ear tag enquiries – Mr Johan Engelbrecht- (+264) 081 122 4917/ chfanmeat@nammic.com.na
All border enquiries – Mr Wessels Horn- (+264) 081 128 8545 / wessels@nammic.com.na
All Transport or permit enquiries:
Transkalahari Border Post – Collin Kazongominja – (+264) 081 258 3183 / collin@nammic.com.na
Noordoewer & Ariamsvlei – Gerhard Jooste – (+264) 081 767 0555 / gerhard@nammic.com.na
All Finance enquiries – Ms Ursula Nguvauva – (+264) 081 279 1821 / ursula@nammic.com.na
All general enquiries – Mr Willem Schutz – (+264) 081 129 3070 / willie@nammic.com.na

The Meat Board will during this period do its utmost to maintain critical services and assist where necessary.

Producers are urged to make use of the following online services Click here to download the full document of available online services with step by step guidelines.

New fire management measures for the charcoal industry
New measures to reduce the risk of bush fires, caused by charcoal production, have been announced by the Directorate of Forestry. Effective immediately, these measures will annually be in place from the beginning of August until the end of December.

Charcoal production should be done under the following circumstances:
1. Cluster all kilns at a designated facility or central burning site per camp of charcoal production.
2. Charcoal producing farms should make 15m-wide firebreaks round the properties at the end of each rainy season.
3. An area of at least 5 meter radius must be cleared of grass around active clusters of kilns.

Forestry officials may inspect any charcoal production farm to verify whether above procedures are in place. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism urges charcoal burners to fully comply with the above guidelines. Not implementing these guidelines will lead to an immediate withdrawal of harvesting and marketing permits. The abovementioned measures are aimed at preventing the occurrence of uncontrolled veld fires that annually destroy vast tracts of land in Namibia.

Click here to download the official letter from the Directorate of Forestry.

FA AND OTHER NEWS
(PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE MEETINGS MAY CHANGE DUE TO COVID-19 REGULATIONS. CONTACT THE ORGANISERS FOR NEW INFORMATION)
Windhoek Regional Agricultural Union (RAU)
They have a meeting on 17 August at 08:30 in the NAU Boardroom. For more information, contact Marianne Seifert, Tel 062 581 650, info@farm-heimat.com
Summerdown FA
Their meeting is scheduled for 19 August at 15:00 at the FA hall. The speakers are Kai-Dieter Rumpf (Bush fires) and Jürgen Matthaei (Reservists and crime forum). For more information contact Rienie du Plessis, Tel 062 561621, summerdownbv@gmail.com.
Leonardville FA
Their meeting is scheduled for 13 August at 15:00 at the FA hall. For more information contact Johannie Brenkmann, Tel 081 1224178, lvillebv@gmail.com.
Western Khomas FA
They have a meeting on 19 August at 15:00 at the Harmonie FA hall. For more information contact Amanda Greeff at 064 551 565 or luanda@iway.na
Otjiwarongo FA
Regenerative Livestock Production is the theme at their farmers’ day to be held on 8 September at Farm Buffelhoek. The programme begins at 09:00 and the presenter is Mr Colin Nott. At 11:00 a farm visit will be conducted, with the programme ending at 16:00. Please RSVP by 1 September to Rozane Briedenhann per WhatsApp (081 250 8986). For more information contact Johan Pieterse at 067 303 315 or pietrsejp@iway.na
Agra ProVision courses
DATE TOPIC CITY COST 18-19 August Cattle breeding for beginners Windhoek N$2 750 20-21 August Horticulture Windhoek N$2 750
24-25 August Free range poultry production Windhoek N$3 200

For more information contact Agra ProVision at 061 2909208 or apvtraining@agra.com.na Meatco
The Annual General Meeting will take place on 21 August at the NIPAM campus, Olympia, Windhoek. Registered members may attend the meeting and have voting rights. For more information contact the Meatco head office at 061 303 315.
NMC – AGM Namibia Medical Care’s Annual General Meeting will take place at 12:00 on 28 August 2020 at the NamPower Convention Centre, Windhoek. For more information contact NMC at Tel 061 233575.

Landbou Joernaal on Channel 7
Saturday morning at 06:00 on Landbou Joernaal:
• A wide range of subjects including chicken feeding, the road to recovery after the drought and which auctions are taking place and where. • we also page through the new Landbouweekblad
A re-broadcast of Saturday’s Landbou Joernaal takes place on Wednesday evenings from 20:00. Channel 7 can also be heard on their website at www.k7.com.na or on their cellphone app. Listeners who prefer to listen to Dstv can tune in on 825. Enquiries and requests can be sent via SMS to 1023 with the code landbou