Agriculture

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There are concerns over the looming drought, as such drought could spell disaster and affect the farming production process, prices of livestock and crops, as well as the cost of food in general. Not so long ago, Namibia witnessed two consecutive cycles of the worst drought it has ever experienced in the modern era. 

The Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) recently donated manketti harvesting starter kits to 200 manketti harvesters in Maurus Nekaro and Kapinga Kamwale conservancies in an effort to support sustainable utilisation of natural resources in communal areas.

Novice farmers are faced with one critical question: what type of farming activities do I venture into? Should it be livestock, crop, or poultry farming?

In 2019, an unprepared Kamakotje ‘Kamaa’ Marenga decided to test the depth of the water with both feet. He rounded up a few of his aspiring Veldmaster sheep breeds and threw them into the kraal with those of other farmers. 

As we continue looking at financing options for farmers and agripreneurs, let us touch base on the SME Recovery Loan scheme and other loan options that are being offered by banking institutions to fund operations and investments. 

As much as we encourage young people into farming, you must come armed with knowledge. It is not an ultimate cycler or a get-rich-quick scheme. Farming is a good venture and can multiply your investments a thousandfold. However, it can also go bad, real quick.

The SADC food security early warning system report for January 2023 indicates that the vegetation conditions in Namibia and southern Angola are well below average, which is consistent with rainfall performance. 

As highlighted last week, there are a few options available to farmers for access to financing for farming operations, businesses, or agricultural start-ups. One of the options highlighted was agricultural cooperatives, and this is what we will dwell on this week. 

Someone recently asked me, “What would you do differently if you were to start farming today…?” At first, I thought the answer would be simple – I would simply list all the problems I am currently encountering in farming, and do things differently. But it was not that simple.