WINDHOEK – The Oshikoto Region produced its second national grand mahangu champion in three years when Phineas Nambandi was crowned Mahangu King 2014 at last Saturday’s Oshipe Mahangu Festival at Omuthiya.
“These farmers should serve as examples to others. They are ambassadors for good farming practices in the communal crop farming system. I know that Namibia is acknowledged as the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa and farming in Namibia is not easy. The effects of climate change also threaten us. We are always reminded that more extreme atmospheric events that are attributed to climatic change will continue to adversely influence our rainfall pattern. I urge you and us all to be creative and adopt innovative practices and technologies that will enable you to cope with such adverse climatic conditions,” said Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, John Mutorwa.
The 2013/2014 cropping season cereal production in Namibia improved greatly, despite the drought experienced in most parts of the crop growing regions in the previous year. This, said the minister, is an indication that local mahangu and maize producers are committed and determined to produce surplus mahangu.
Since the inception of the Mahangu Festival in 2009, this event has been and is being hosted in the region, where the National Grand Mahangu Champion is based.