The techniques, management methods, and approaches required to survive and make an impact in today’s modern farming system have changed significantly. For young farmers, agriculture should no longer be seen as a hobby, rural development initiative, or retirement project, but should be appreciated and seen as a business like any other that requires a high...
Established in 1953, the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), a division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water & Land Reform, is dedicated to understanding Namibia’s plant diversity and promoting its conservation and sustainable use. Over the years, the NBRI has broadened its functions and expanded its outreach across diverse regions and sectors to advance...
Namibia, through the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN) and the Directorate of Veterinary Services, has placed its livestock sector on high alert after it procured equipment, vaccines and materials to combat potential outbreaks of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) countrywide. The country’s procured additional equipment, vaccines and related materials will form part of...
Meatco, the country’s biggest meat processing and marketing entity, has reaffirmed its continued commitment to upholding the highest standards of Halaal certification and integrity across all its operations, which serves as a core strategic business imperative. The entity operates fully Halaal-certified abattoirs that adhere to stringent regulatory and religious requirements, which are anchored on strict...
A new year brings fresh opportunities for growth, learning and positive change – a hope that many aspiring agripreneurs carry into the new year. Many will venture into farming in the hope that this new journey can be life-changing, enabling them to envision a better future, as farming is an undertaking that allows one to be...
The implementation of Agribank’s Arrears Relief Programme officially began yesterday and will provide much-needed assistance to hundreds of farmers who have fallen behind on their loan repayments. The programme was launched in September last year. It aims to relieve struggling farmers of their loan repayments while strengthening the bank’s loan recovery efforts through an incentivised,...
Meatco’s Northern Communal Area (NCA) subsidiary, Meatco NCA, continues to play a strategic role in strengthening livestock value chains and supporting communal farmers in the Zambezi region, in line with Namibia’s long-term development vision and national planning priorities. Beyond its core mandate of livestock processing and market access, Meatco NCA’s work is closely aligned with...
In arid and semi-arid countries such as Namibia where water is a scarce resource, it is always advisable for farmers to engage in water conserving practices. The tillage or cultivation of land for the purpose of crop or vegetable production often exposes the soil to scorching sunlight, which speeds up evaporation and depletes moisture. A...
The Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) has acknowledged the scale of the current Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and in response, the institute has vowed to elevate production processes to cater for the growing demand. Through this action, BVI continues to demonstrate its longstanding commitment to regional...
A few weeks ago, Jochem Versloot, the co-founder of Jan Zandbergen Group, one of Europe’s biggest meat products importers, visited Namibia and various local abattoirs to inspect and appreciate the quality of the country’s export-ready grass and grain-fed cattle. The Jan Zandbergen Group, Meatco’s foremost trade partner in the Netherlands and across the entire European meat...