By Staff Reporter
WINDHOEK – In the quest to train and mentor all stakeholders in the agricultural sector on the conditions of animal nutrition and health in the Northern Communal Areas (NCAs), Agra ProVision is hosting two information days.
These days will provide feedback on two fully-funded Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) projects in which ProVision has been involved: the Baseline Survey of Animal Nutrition and Sero-Epidemiological and Parasite Survey in livestock. The information days started yesterday at Oshandira Lodge in Oshakati and the second day will take place on Friday in Rundu at the Kavango Regional Auditorium. The projects fall under the agriculture pillar of MCA-Namibia and were conducted in the NCAs with Agra ProVision as professional implementing agent. The projects have been executed over the past three years with the aim to assist in the development of the agricultural sector, specifically targeting the reduction of poverty through efficient livestock production.
At the previous information session held in Windhoek last year, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agra, Peter Kazmaier emphasised the importance of the projects to contribute to the growth of agriculture in the NCAs and Namibia at large. “The information and research findings generated through this MCA mechanism has already contributed to the quality of life and social upliftment of the direct project beneficiaries; it has also backed Namibia’s good standing of delivering excellent applied research and technology services internationally,” he says. He also explains the role played by Agra to develop the industry. “Agra and its various divisions, including ProVision, have a keen interest in the successful development of Namibia’s communal areas into viable and profitable regions, and by this means supporting an ecological and economically sustainable value chain for agricultural production and rural development.”
Through these sessions, communities in the four major agro-ecological zones of the NCAs will be guided on how to apply the information gathered during these research projects, practically and relevantly in their own particular situations. At the same events, participants will be introduced to low pressure drip irrigation kits, considered the latest technology to improve vegetable production, especially in arid areas. Danie Marais, Technical Advisor: Agronomy and Horticulture at Agra ProVision will demonstrate this technology and explain its advantages for small holder farmers.
Dagmar Honsbein, General Manager: Agra ProVision, urges all various stakeholders in the agricultural sector, including representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, farmers’ unions, livestock producers, academics and the general public to attend these important sessions. Agra established Agra ProVision (formerly known as Professional Services Division – PSD) in 2009 with the main objective of providing a structured framework for rendering various specialised services to the Namibian agricultural sector. To learn more about Agra ProVision contact Twaku Kayofa @ 061 290 9208 or email to advice@agra.com.na.