Some subsistence farmers in the northern regions have opted to use traditional implements and tools to plough their crop fields, arguing private tractors are expensive.
Farmers also told AgriToday they are left to rely on using draft animals such as donkeys and oxen since they are cheaper alternatives to tractors.
Maria Shikongo from Okando village is one farmer who opted for a cheaper ploughing option.
“Private tractors are too expensive. They are charging us N$600 to N$700 per hour, it’s too expensive,” complained Shikongo.
According to the agriculture ministry spokesperson, Jona Musheko, the government provides tractors at a subsidised price in every constituency.
Musheko said every constituency is allocated at least one tractor.
“We understand that this is not enough, but for now we are not planning to add more. That’s why we came up with the scheme of private tractors,” he explained.
He said in this scheme individual farmers pay 50%, while government pays the remaining 50%.
Uuvudhiya constituency councillor Timoteus Shivute admitted to challenges faced by communal farmers, but said it was a means to an end.
“Although the two tractors in our constituency don’t cater for every house, the scheme is really helpful,” he said.
He said government had roped in private tractor owners in a price-sharing scheme whereby the farmer pays half and the government the other half.
Shivute said those currently using the government scheme only pay N$250 per hectare.
Shaanika Shikongo, a farmer from Onaushe village however said tractors in the government scheme had not been operational in their area for years and as such, farmers had completely forgotten there was such a service.
“Those services are not known in this village. We only hear people saying that they pay half and government pays the rest of the money, but it does not happen here,” said Shikongo.
Shikongo said he recently paid N$600 per hour to plough her field and that she is waiting for her next pension grant to plough the remaining acres of land.
Elago Itembu, a tractor owner explained that the increase in the prices they charge is because of the continuous rise in fuel prices.
The government, through its line ministry also assists farmers with the provision of seeds at a cheaper price to maximise farmers’ eventual harvest in the area.