Agribank donates N$100 000 to FMD Support Fund

Agribank has donated N$100 000 to the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) Support Fund, backing efforts to contain the outbreak and protect Namibia’s livestock industry.

The FMD Support Fund is a joint, private-sector-led initiative established to reinforce national biosecurity and protect Namibia’s multi-billion-dollar livestock industry.

Agriculture Minister Inge Zaamwani officially launched the fund as a proactive measure in February, and it operates as a non-profit Section 21 company.

It was co-founded by Namibia’s four primary agricultural unions, led by the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), Namibia National Farmers Union (NNFU), Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers Union (NECFU) and the Previously Disadvantaged Namibian Farmers Union (PDNFU).

Speaking at the handover yesterday, Agribank’s CEO Robert Eiman said the contribution reflects the bank’s commitment to supporting the agricultural sector and the livelihoods that depend on it.

“The FMD outbreak and the associated restrictions have disrupted livestock production, marketing and trade, placing additional pressure on farmers and businesses across the agricultural value chain. Therefore, as Namibia’s premier agricultural lender, Agribank recognises the importance of collective action in addressing this challenge,” said Eiman.

He further reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to working with affected clients to assess their individual circumstances and explore appropriate repayment arrangements and available support options in line with the bank’s policies and procedures.

Receiving the donation, Medmillian Handura, chairperson of the FMD Support Fund, commended Agribank for its contribution despite the challenges facing the bank.

He emphasised that holding each other’s hands is essential to addressing the impact of the FMD outbreak.

“We are deeply grateful to Agribank for standing with farmers and supporting collective efforts to contain FMD and contribute to the recovery and resilience of Namibia’s livestock sector,” stated Handura.

Agribank also encouraged clients experiencing financial challenges due to the outbreak of FMD to engage with their nearest or preferred branches for assistance as early as possible.

Following active FMD outbreaks detected in the //Kharas and Zambezi regions, the fund’s current operational priorities include supplying biosecurity products, active surveillance kits, vehicle disinfection setups, and critical equipment to over 30 Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) field teams on the front lines.

It is also assisting roadblock, and tracking teams enforce localised animal and meat movement restrictions.

While initial seed pledges yielded over N$12 million, supplemented by recent major corporate donations such as the Bank Windhoek’s N$2 million commitment and N$1.5 million from the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), the fund is actively targeting a N$50 million total resource pool to buffer containment costs.

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