Namibia's livestock sector could lose N$151 million every week as foot-and-mouth disease shuts export markets, industry leaders warned on Friday, 30 October 2026, at the Bank Windhoek Agricultural Series in Windhoek.
The outbreak, confirmed in the Karasburg district on 23 September, is the first in Namibia's export zone in more than 60 years, and it puts roughly 52 000 agricultural jobs south of the Cordon Fence, supporting some 200 000 dependants, at risk, according to Namibian Sun.
What the numbers say
Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) president Thinus Pretorius put the cost of the value-chain disruption at N$13 million a day, or N$2.4 billion over six months. The stakes are highest in the export business: 94% of Namibia's beef exports in 2025 went to European markets that require FMD-free status, and access to the European Union and Norway has been suspended since the outbreak.
Alternative markets offer far less. Fresh boneless beef fetches about N$219 per kilogram in Europe, against N$113 to N$138 in the markets Namibia could reach now.
“The longer the markets stay closed, the more this becomes a question of jobs and households, not just farms,” Pretorius said.
Why FMD-free status is only the start
Pretorius warned that regaining FMD-free status would not automatically reopen doors, because each importing country decides on its own when to resume purchases. “FMD-free status is the starting point, not the finish line,” he said.
The NAU has proposed a three-part response: keeping domestic trade running under strict veterinary supervision, securing alternative export markets, and restoring FMD-free status without vaccination. “Government reopens markets. Industry wins them back,” Pretorius said.
Lawmakers have already flagged the funding gap. The Namibian reported that members of parliament warned the government's N$179 million allocation to fight the disease may not be enough to support affected farmers.
Where the outbreak stands
Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Kenneth Shoombe told the Windhoek gathering that, as of 27 October, 131 positive samples had been recorded across 18 infected farms in the //Kharas Region. Vaccination teams had reached 8 102 of a targeted 13 000 cattle in //Kharas, and 53 913 of 56 360 cattle in the Zambezi Region, where a separate outbreak was confirmed on 6 October.
Controlled direct slaughter has resumed, with 1 344 cattle processed at registered abattoirs. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has opened talks with potential alternative markets including Tunisia, Morocco and Nigeria.
Jako van Wyk, vice-chairperson of the ministerial FMD task force, said the Directorate of Veterinary Services plans a new disease-control fence, targeted for November 2026. He stressed that Namibia's FMD-free status has been suspended, not lost, and that Namibia is one of only three countries with an official FMD control programme endorsed by the World Organisation for Animal Health in 2026.
“Your records are your passport back to the market,” van Wyk told farmers.
A regional problem, not a national one
Botswana's Charles Hill District representative, Kealeboga Patrick Gaebuse, whose district hosts the Mamuno border post on the Trans-Kalahari Corridor, reminded delegates that animal diseases ignore boundaries. “The disease carries no passport,” he said, urging banks to offer relief to farmers before they default on their loans.
Patrik Buholzer, co-chief executive of the Swiss animal health firm SAFOSO, framed preparedness as an investment in resilience. “Animal health status is built on evidence. Trade is built on evidence and trust,” he said.
New Era argued in an opinion piece that the outbreak threatens the economic relationships that sustain livestock production, meat processing and rural livelihoods, well beyond animal health alone.
Banking sector steps in
Bank Windhoek, host of the annual series since 2018, pledged N$2 million to the FMD Support Fund in February 2026. Managing director James Chapman called for a coordinated national response and urged affected clients to contact the bank early.
“Agriculture is the backbone of rural Namibia, and foot-and-mouth disease is testing how well we stand together as a nation,” Chapman said. “No single institution, sector or country can solve this alone.”
Chapman also welcomed Bid-42, issued by the Bank of Namibia, as timely support for the sector during the current financial strain.
What farmers must do now
Speakers urged producers to report suspected infections immediately, comply with livestock movement restrictions, keep accurate animal records, and support vaccination drives. A coordinated response between government, industry and regional partners, they said, is the only path back to disease-free status and to the premium markets Namibia's beef trade depends on.
Friday's event also carried sign-language interpretation for the first time in the series' history, opening the discussion to the Deaf community.
FAQ
How many jobs does the FMD outbreak threaten in Namibia?
The NAU says about 52 000 agricultural jobs south of the Cordon Fence are at risk, supporting an estimated 200 000 dependants.
How much is the outbreak costing Namibia per week?
Industry estimates put potential losses at N$151 million a week, or N$13 million a day, according to NAU president Thinus Pretorius.
Has Namibia lost its FMD-free status permanently?
No. The status has been suspended, not lost, according to the FMD task force, and Namibia aims to restore it without vaccination.