WINDHOEK: The agricultural sector was flat at 0.0 per cent in real value added during the first quarter of 2012, compared to a 3.4 per cent growth registered in the corresponding quarter of 2011.

The first quarter ended on 30 March.

According to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA)’s Gross Domestic Product report issued here on Thursday, the slowdown in the activities of agriculture were mainly due to the livestock sub-sector which registered a decline of 1.8 per cent in real value added during the period under review.

The poor performance in livestock was mainly due to the number of livestock marketed, which declined by 15.6 per cent.

According to the NSA, the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the Caprivi Region in December last year and the Oshakati Meatco that was under renovation, are some of the main reasons behind the sluggish performance of the livestock sub-sector.

The report added that the fish and fish-processing on-board sector is estimated to have recorded a decline of 17.7 per cent in real value added during the first quarter of 2012, compared a 5.0 per cent growth registered in the same period of 2011.

This sector was mainly influenced by the demersal and pelagic fisheries’ landings that have declined by 15.1 per cent and 61.0 per cent, respectively.

The main purpose of quarterly national accounts are to provide a picture of current economic development that is more timely and frequent than provided by annual national accounts.

The quarterly data serves to determine the short-term movements in the series, while the annual data determine the overall level and long-term movements in the series.