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...
Let me once again welcome you to another edition of your weekly Talk to the Vet column, where we discuss and share tips on everything that has to do with animal healthcare. Today, we will look at the ongoing Lumpy skin disease outbreak that has affected farmers in some parts of the country. I always...
Simpli Business Advisory facilitated a Farmers’ Financial Management Workshop for Agribank clients, which was sponsored and organised by the National Mentorship & Coaching Programme of the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN), in partnership with AgriBank, from 19-20 July 2024. One of the topics of emphasis was the importance of understanding your overall farming enterprise costs...
Zebaldt Ngaruka Over 198 drought-stricken farmers from the //Kharas, Hardap, Erongo and Otjozondjupa regions were recently thrown a lifeline after FirstRand Namibia donated animal feed and numerous supplements worth over N$1 million. FirstRand is rolling out the drought relief programme in collaboration with Drought Relief Namibia, a private entity that has since 2015 been a...
The Mashare Blueberries Farm, which is now in its fifth year of production, is expecting another quality bumper harvest spanning over 60 hectares, with large quantities of Azrablue, Atlasblue, Biancablue berries and Sekoya Pop all anticipating to embellish this year’s yield. The country’s first-ever commercial berry farm is situated 45km outside Rundu in the Kavango...
Moses Magadza The SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), in collaboration with its partners, convened a regional workshop under the theme ‘Fostering Sustainable Futures: Integrating Climate Resilience in Southern Africa’. At least 50 delegates attended the two-day workshop last week. The SADC PF organised the workshop in partnership with the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) and...
Zebaldt Ngaruka GOBABIS – Community-based organisation One Step at Time gave animals to individuals who have shown interest in farming in Khomas and Otjozondjupa regions. The project was established in 2008, and provided funding of close to N$3 million by the Social Security Commission (SSC) to eradicate poverty among Namibians. One Step at Time also...
Namibia is experiencing a serious drought, with the lowest run-off recorded in the past 100 years. This is an indication that groundwater resources will become less reliable in the future. Speaking at the World Water Forum held in Bali, Indonesia, Namibia’s Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Calle Schlettwein said this would have a...