Swakara an African leader Namibia is an African leader when it comes to the Swakara industry, however, over recent years pelt numbers have been declining and therefore farming with karakul sheep, which produce the Swakara pelt, should be expanded across the country.
There are currently are 450 Namibian Swakara producers and approximately 14 000 people are directly benefiting from the industry.
Top-quality black Swakara pelts can fetch more than N$900 while top-quality white pelts fetch up to N$2 200.
This was highlighted during a familiarisation visit of agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb to Swakara in Windhoek.
Swakara board member Pieter Hugo explained the origin of Swakara and said that karakul sheep were imported into Namibia from central Asia in 1907.
“The sheep we have today are totally different than those we imported.”
Hugo said the genetic makeup of the sheep has been completely changed. “We created in Namibia a uniqueness in the karakul and established a new breed and called it Swakara. It is a major achievement and Namibia can be very proud about what it has created.”
Hugo said the attractiveness of Swakara is in the short hair, the hair formation and the way the light reflects on it. “This is what is so unique.”
Hugo added that pelts from Botswana and South Africa are channelled through the house of Swakara.
However it was pointed out that Namibia used to produce more than five million Swakara pelts per year in the late 70s to the early 90s, and now it barely produces 100 000. Farming of Swakara sheep used to take place across Namibia and it should be expanded across the country again.
According to the Swakara board, the industry has market access to Russia, China the European Union, America and the Middle East, as well as niche markets.
“Small scale farmers with one pelt can produce an internationally sought-after product designed by world renowned designers, worn by world leaders and trendsetters.”
The chairperson of the Swakara board, Julene Meyer, said Swakara was declared as a strategic industry in Namibia in 2006 and is important for the Namibian economy.
In 1966 the Swakara brand was established and in 1994 the first successful public-private partnership was established with participation from Kopenhagen Fur, Agra, the Swakara industry and government. That year Kopenhagen Fur became the official auction house for Swakara.
According to Meyer, Kopenhagen trusts the Namibian grading system. “The world-leading auction house trusts Namibian sorters and graders. What is sorted here does not have to be sorted in Copenhagen again. It meets their high international standards.”
Meyer said their process is used as a base for other karakul industries worldwide through the International Fur Federation system.
!Naruseb said this is an outstanding achievement. “We must be able to tell good stories of what is happening in Namibia. What we are doing is of such quality that it does not have to be subjected to sorting again.”
!Naruseb wanted to know how the Swakara industry deals with the anti-fur society.
Meyer explained that the end users are totally willing to use fur if it is produced in a responsible manner. She said producers subscribe to the codes of conduct and of practice. “We are fortunate that the way the industry is structured, we are guarded against this.”
It was also explained by Hugo that with regards to harvesting of lambs he explained that animals are harvested between 24 to 48 hours after birth.
“The ewe does not have to lactate and this means that you can carry more ewes on the land, because you do not have to raise the lamb.”
He said the Swakara pelting process is internationally accepted. It was explained that a unit is used that stuns the animal and makes it unconscious.
ELLANIE SMIT
There are currently are 450 Namibian Swakara producers and approximately 14 000 people are directly benefiting from the industry.
Top-quality black Swakara pelts can fetch more than N$900 while top-quality white pelts fetch up to N$2 200.
This was highlighted during a familiarisation visit of agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb to Swakara in Windhoek.
Swakara board member Pieter Hugo explained the origin of Swakara and said that karakul sheep were imported into Namibia from central Asia in 1907.
“The sheep we have today are totally different than those we imported.”
Hugo said the genetic makeup of the sheep has been completely changed. “We created in Namibia a uniqueness in the karakul and established a new breed and called it Swakara. It is a major achievement and Namibia can be very proud about what it has created.”
Hugo said the attractiveness of Swakara is in the short hair, the hair formation and the way the light reflects on it. “This is what is so unique.”
Hugo added that pelts from Botswana and South Africa are channelled through the house of Swakara.
However it was pointed out that Namibia used to produce more than five million Swakara pelts per year in the late 70s to the early 90s, and now it barely produces 100 000. Farming of Swakara sheep used to take place across Namibia and it should be expanded across the country again.
According to the Swakara board, the industry has market access to Russia, China the European Union, America and the Middle East, as well as niche markets.
“Small scale farmers with one pelt can produce an internationally sought-after product designed by world renowned designers, worn by world leaders and trendsetters.”
The chairperson of the Swakara board, Julene Meyer, said Swakara was declared as a strategic industry in Namibia in 2006 and is important for the Namibian economy.
In 1966 the Swakara brand was established and in 1994 the first successful public-private partnership was established with participation from Kopenhagen Fur, Agra, the Swakara industry and government. That year Kopenhagen Fur became the official auction house for Swakara.
According to Meyer, Kopenhagen trusts the Namibian grading system. “The world-leading auction house trusts Namibian sorters and graders. What is sorted here does not have to be sorted in Copenhagen again. It meets their high international standards.”
Meyer said their process is used as a base for other karakul industries worldwide through the International Fur Federation system.
!Naruseb said this is an outstanding achievement. “We must be able to tell good stories of what is happening in Namibia. What we are doing is of such quality that it does not have to be subjected to sorting again.”
!Naruseb wanted to know how the Swakara industry deals with the anti-fur society.
Meyer explained that the end users are totally willing to use fur if it is produced in a responsible manner. She said producers subscribe to the codes of conduct and of practice. “We are fortunate that the way the industry is structured, we are guarded against this.”
It was also explained by Hugo that with regards to harvesting of lambs he explained that animals are harvested between 24 to 48 hours after birth.
“The ewe does not have to lactate and this means that you can carry more ewes on the land, because you do not have to raise the lamb.”
He said the Swakara pelting process is internationally accepted. It was explained that a unit is used that stuns the animal and makes it unconscious.
ELLANIE SMIT