Western Province Permanent Secretary Ikanuke Noyoo says the leather industry has great potential to contribute to the growth of the economy.
In an interview with ZANIS, Mr. Noyoo urged cattle farmers to explore possibilities of entering the leather industry other than concentrating on beef industry alone.
He said leather and leather products had maintained high prices internationally and once properly harnessed, the industry could contribute positively to economic development.
Mr. Noyoo said there was need to come up with a legislation to force abattoirs and other cattle traders pay a premium of the hides and skins in addition to just buying the beef.
He called upon cattle farmers to strengthen the leather sub sector by taking care of the hides and skins.
ZANIS
Is this when they have just realised that? While we were sleeping, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia have been exporting high quality leather to Europe all along. Most of this leather ends up as seats and interior lining for Mercedes Benz vehicles. The prestige cars are then sold back to Africa and the rest of the world. Welcome to the corporate world!
We are always backwards when it comes to improving our economy. These degree holders that we are having in the govt kaya mwandi. Not only leather even mango, banana, Beans can be exported. Kenya, South Africa to mention a few, are making a lot of money exporting Banana and all kinds of fruits and yet our govt is still asleep and when they walk up, they want Chinese pipo to come all the way from the country and improve their economy. No country can agree to assist you develop unless they are benefiting in some ways.