The Suide Boere Netwerk (SBN), a group primarily comprising communal and resettled farmers from the southern parts of the country, is set to host its first small stock show of the year this coming weekend.

The show, which will mark the commencement of one of its many activities lined up for 2026, will take place at the Amperbo Auction Pens, some 110km from Mariental, and will feature some of the finest breeds from southern Namibia.

The group has, over the past years, hosted numerous small shows for the area’s communal and resettled farmers, and the last three years have seen an upsurge in staging fully expanded shows with over 400 different breeds on display and also prizes for the various categories of winners.

SBN shows have become a staple for renowned southern-based farmers such as Saaipan Boerdery’s Boergoats, Wouksie van Wyk’s Meatmaster ewes and rams, and many young farmers from other parts of the country who come in numbers to take notes and learn from their southern counterparts. 

Veteran judges such as Wihan Brandt and Revel Beukes have, over the years, been on hand to share their expertise with emerging farmers on selecting and maintaining the perfect breeds for such shows. The group is committed to promoting the values and needs of farmers in both the //Kharas and Hardap regions.

“With the small stock show we are hosting on 28 February 2026 in Amperbo, which is 110km from Mariental, our aim is to provide educational workshops, local livestock championships, and community upliftment,” said SBN representative Wouksie Van Wyk. 

Farmers in the southern parts of the country continue to take up farming as a full-time profession and an avenue for sustainable food production. 

Sector overview 

Agriculture is one of Namibia’s most important sectors, with about 70 % of the country’s population depending directly or indirectly on agriculture for their income and livelihood, mostly in the subsistence sector. There are mainly two types of farming in Namibia, namely commercial farming and subsistence farming. 

The country’s commercial agricultural sector covers about 44 % of the total land, though it accommodates only 10% of the population, while the communal sector, on the other hand, covers 41% of the total land area and accommodates about 60% of the population. 

-ohembapu@nepc.com.na