Ace Mutelo turns diverse experience into value for farmers

Ace Mutelo's career has spanned economics, information technology systems, private business and the livestock industry, giving him a broad perspective on how different parts of an organisation can contribute to creating value.

Mutelo, who serves as acting executive, trade and marketing at the Livestock and Livestock Products Board (LLPB) of Namibia, began his career in 2003 as a customs and excise officer at the then finance ministry.

He later served as an economist and senior economist at the National Planning Commission before joining the LLPB in 2004 as chief of information systems. After 11 years in private practice as a business consultant, he returned to the LLPB as manager of information systems.

His academic background includes an honours degree in economics and a master's degree in business administration, as well as studies in law and accounting.

In his current work, Mutelo oversees the production of statistics for the livestock and livestock products sector, with a focus on efficient data collection, quality control and timely publication.

“I see myself as an extension of the value chain. I see myself as a support to those who are engaged in the business of farming, he says.

His years in private business also shaped his approach to his responsibilities.

Rather than viewing his department simply as a workplace function, he now approaches it as a business unit, asking how he can maximise its output with the resources available.

“I must put myself in the shoes of the producer and see how I can support them to create more value," Mutelo explains.

For Mutelo, Namibia’s livestock sector offers significant opportunities but also faces challenges, including foot-and-mouth disease, drought and unequal access to lucrative markets. He believes developing agricultural skills and entrepreneurship among young people is essential.

“It is important to have agriculture as a vocation. But it's also important to have the business analytical skills to make money out of agriculture," he stresses.

Looking ahead, Mutelo highlights initiatives such as the sustainable livestock programme and the board's five-year strategic plan running to 2030. For him, strengthening the sector means helping farmers obtain greater value from their products while preparing Namibia's livestock industry for changing market and environmental expectations.