Following on from our previous article on separating the farming operational cost from production cost, we found it necessary to state the records required to be able to measure the production cost per unit (direct and indirect). We reiterate the importance of understanding the costs of production to set the correct price for your products,...
The agricultural sector in Namibia is the backbone of the country’s economy through food production, employment-creation and income-generation. The sector faces endless challenges associated with climate, market, technologies, inputs and conflicts. These are hindering sustainable crop and livestock production in the country at all scales in all communal and commercial production environments. In comparison, communal...
FARM OTJATJINGENGE – Embracing challenges, being innovative, taking calculated risks, always striving to reach new heights and collaborating with fellow farmers have kept farmer Cisca Katjatako going for the past eight years. Today, she runs and manages a hugely-successful garden at farm Otjatjingenge, which is situated some 30km from Okakarara. Here she plants and sells...
Zebaldt Ngaruka The Otjozondjupa Communal Farmers Union (OCFU) will today host its much-anticipated farmers’ information day on potato production at Ombujovakuru village in the Okakarara constituency. The potato production day emanated from the call by the Namibia Agronomic Board (NAB) on local producers to grow more potatoes to reduce the country’s annual import bill of...
OTJIWARONGO – The government, through the ministry of agriculture, continues to strengthen and roll out its livestock support programme, which aims to capacitate farmers and share modern production techniques that are resilient to climate change. Farmers in the eight regions of the country’s Northern Communal Areas (NCAs), which comprise Zambezi, Kavango East, Kavango West, Oshikoto,...
Welcome to another edition of the Talk to the Vet weekly column, where we bring you, our esteemed farmers, up to date with all things animal healthcare- related. Today, we will look into the interesting world of veterinary parasitology. Simply put, veterinary parasitology is a branch of veterinary medicine that deals with the study of...
Rearing poultry for business can be an exciting and rewarding experience when done properly. From the onset, one needs to conduct thorough market research to determine the vital information that can be used to establish a viable and profitable business. When poultry farming, a few small mistakes can be very costly, so it is important...
RIETFONTEIN – Just as Namibia’s agronomy sector is grappling with a fluctuating and mammoth annual import bill of over N$472 million, the National Youth Service (NYS) Production Centre at Rietfontein is rising like a phoenix, and will soon become the country’s only oasis of hope. Situated approximately 40km south of Grootfontein in the vast Otjozondjupa...
During the winter season, small stock (goat and sheep) farmers always have a big task at hand to ensure that the lambing (sheep birth) and kidding (goat birth) season progresses well with fewer or no complications in their kraals to potentially achieve their production targets. Generally, animals’ breeding activities occur during seasons or times most...
Welcome to another edition of Talk to the Vet, your favourite column where we discuss, share and unpack all things that have to do with animal healthcare. Today, we are going to discuss the Scaly Leg Mite condition, which predominantly affects birds. This is a condition caused by a mite, called Knemidocoptes Mutans, also known...