By Wezi Tjaronda
SKOONHEID
San communities on four resettlement farms in the Omaheke and Khomas regions want the Livelihood Support Progamme (LISUP) on the farms extended.
The three-year programme, which started last year and ends in November next year, is supported by the Spanish Cooperation and implemented by the Desert Research Foundation Namibia (DRFN) and a Spanish non-governmental organisation, FCEAR in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement.
The 229 San resettled on Skoonheid, Sonnelblom/Donkerbos and Drimiopsis farms in Omaheke and Arovlei farm in Khomas on Monday showcased the products they have produced with the help of the project.
They said with support, the San would demonstrate that they are masters of their own development.
The project involves improving the living conditions on resettlement farms with the aim to reduce poverty and stimulate sustainable development in resettlement areas.
But, San representatives from the different farms said the project should be extended “for us to show you what we can do”.
“We hope this project will be extended for a few more years for it to make a difference in the lives of the people,” said Shorty Kanjengo of Donkerbos resettlement farm during the official launch of the LISUP. The launch coincided with the harvest day.
The communities have been equipped with skills such as community organisation, leadership and communication, crop and livestock production, nutrition and health, income generation, craft production and marketing.
Stephan Ganeb of Skoonheid said the families on the farms could now produce enough food for themselves, a thing they never did before.
“We can now satisfy the needs of our households,” said Ganeb.
Before, many of them worked on commercial farms.
Ganeb added that the project has helped to keep members of the families in one place.
Each family farms on half a hectare of land on which it grows maize, cowpeas, groundnuts and mahangu through drip irrigation and rain-fed production.
They also produce a variety of vegetables like beetroots, tomatoes, pumpkins, butternuts, potatoes, onions, carrots, green pepper, watermelons and cucumbers.
At Skoonheid farm, the garden group has produced 425 kg of maize, beans, and groundnuts and has earned N$3??????’??