IN her 2026 state of the nation address (Sona), president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah reaffirmed the centrality of value addition to Namibia’s economic future. The livestock sector: Supports around 70% of livelihoods Sustains over 57 000 jobs across the value chain Contributes up to 6.2% of gross domestic product when processing is included This is not a marginal sector; it is a national economic backbone. Despite this, Namibia continues to export significant volumes of cattle on the hoof. Each animal exported live represents lost domestic processing, lost jobs and lost foreign exchange. We are exporting value we should be capturing at home. As a country, Namibia has already proven that smart agricultural policy can shape markets, protect producers and build local industry. The model exists. It works. And it is time we apply it where it matters most, the red meat sector. Through the Namibia Agronomic Board (NAB), Namibia has successfully implemented a simple but powerful principle: ...