ONDANGWA – “The Farmers’ Field Days with a special focus on Conservation Agriculture are attracting visitors even from far away,” said Hileni Shikongo, a Conservation Agriculture farmer in Okaku constituency, Oshana region, who hosted a successful field event last Saturday. The event attracted more than 150 visitors from the north central regions, following upon a similar event hosted last week by Conservation Agriculture farmer Haliana Thomas in Oshigambo, Oshikoto region, which also drew large crowds.
Conservation Agriculture uses rip furrowing methods (rather than disc harrowing) for improved and sustained productivity, increased profits and food security despite increasingly negative climate-change impacts, such as droughts and floods. This week’s Farmers’ Field Day provided farmers an opportunity to come together to share knowledge, and it attracted not only farmers, but also councilors, traditional leaders and representatives from UNAM.
“I learned today that even some of our leaders also practice CA, which is very inspirational. Farmers and other visitors were listening very attentively, actively participating in the open floor discussion and in the mood of learning from each other. I wish all would have the opportunity to attend events like these,” added Shikongo.
Councilor Joseph Endjala, in his opening remarks, thanked the organisers and expressed his appreciation that the Farmers’ Field Day for Oshana region was held in Okaku constituency.
The regional Farmers’ Field Day events are hosted by Lead Farmers in the Namibia Conservation Agriculture project (NCAP) and organized by NCBA CLUSA International and Creative Entrepreneurs Solutions (CES). The aim is to provide platforms for information dissemination on CA and for farmers to come together to share knowledge and experiences.
One visitor, Lemphy Katuuo from Oshikoto region, in a passionate and spontaneous presentation, informed the audience that she has put her entire farm of 17 hectares in Okankolo constituency under CA. Katuuo strongly advised farmers to switch to CA methods and to stay away from soil-destructive farming methods. She encouraged plant residue retention and stressed that farmers must practice soil cover. “In the 2013 year of drought and hunger, and in 2015 with erratic rains and dry spells, I still harvested plenty for household consumption and surplus for the market.” Katuuo emphasized that CA is also reduces labour inputs, and that rip furrowing land preparation can be done using tractors as well as draught animal power.
In the guided field tours at Thomas’ as well as Shikongo’s CA farms, it was evident that the CA methods are effective even in the face of drought. “I only received rain three times since planting last year, but I still will have a good mahangu harvest,” explained Shikongo.
Inomusa Nyati, NCBA CLUSA International Country Representative, in his presentations at both Farmers’ Field Day events emphasized that “CA is not only about land preparation and then hoping for a good harvest. CA is about being serious about farming; it’s about adapting to the changing climate conditions; it’s about improving and conserving soils that are increasingly degraded; it’s about a mind-set change that has to do with the individual’s understanding of playing an important role as a custodian of the soil and sustainable crop production; it’s about creating sustainable livelihoods and household food security; and, in the extension, creating national food security.” He added that “Conservation Agriculture is rapidly spreading across the world. I am immensely happy to be part of the CA movement in Namibia as I constantly witness the positive results, even under harsh climatic conditions.”
Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF) representatives attended both events and held presentations on services offered through its Dry-land Crop Production Programme. Farmers called for subsidized rip furrowing services and also for advice on the increasing challenge of Cooch Grass, an invasive weed that sprouts a new plant from each broken piece of root left in the ground after tilling. Several farmers shared experience on combatting Cooch Grass by using mahangu stem soil cover that effectively suffocates the weed.
Letta Sebron, a CA farmer from Elim in Omusati region, said she wants to see wide-spread uptake of CA practices: “From today’s event it is evident that once we start involving constituency councilors, traditional leaders and religious leaders, CA will be promoted by them at local levels. One very good example is Councilor Jason Ndakunda from Engela constituency, Ohangwena region, who is himself a CA farmer and a strong supporter of rip furrowing. I also would like to see many more Farmers’ Field Days being held. It was also encouraging to witness the high number of men attending the event, as men must become more involved in crop farming.”
Councilor Jason Ndakunda explained in his closing remarks that he came to realize the importance of CA when Johannes Keshongo recorded a bumper harvest in 2013 despite drought, as reported in Farmers’ Forum. From there on he started practicing CA himself. He encouraged farmers to take up CA methods for the sake of creating household and national food security and stressed the importance of farmers actively participating in CA trainings and attending Farmers’ Field Days. He also called for increased regional budget allocations to be provided for CA, and that rip furrowing subsidies should be distributed equally across and within all regions.
“I am very pleased with the Oshana event, and that it attracted not only farmers, but also councilors, traditional leaders, representatives from UNAM Ogongo campus and NGOs,” said Gideon Nantinda, CES NCAP Coordinator for Oshana region. “I am also grateful to the MAWF’s active participation and support to CA.”
“The Oshikoto event a week ago was also well attended. The Farmers’ Field Days provide for farmers to come together to share knowledge, and their interest is high. Every day is a learning process, and I wish that we can continue holding these events,” said Andreas Tweendeni, CES NCAP Coordinator in Oshikoto region.
NCAP is funded by the USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. The project is training 10,800 farmers in CA across northern Namibia.
The next Farmers’ Field Day will be held on Saturday 25 April, starting at 08H30, at Titus Nashima’s farm at Omuthitugwalwani village in Elim constituency, Omusati region. For further information, please contact Anna-Tukwafa Shonghela, CES NCAP Coordinator for the Omusati region at 081-6320143.