KATIMA MULILO – Prominent horticulture farmer and conservation expert Morgan Saisai has strongly criticised modern monoculture farming. He said it severely degrades the soil and reduces crop yields. Saisai, who hails from a rural farming family in Izimwe village, has transformed his 2.4 hectares of productive farmland in Kabbe South in the Zambezi region into...
Raising chickens is rapidly becoming a lucrative farming enterprise that provides affordable protein to households across the country. However, there are critical factors that farmers must understand and adhere to ensure success. Firstly, to achieve success in chicken farming, housing is the most critical factor farmers must prioritise. Chicken coops must be designed in a...
Zebaldt Ngaruka Following recent complaints from crop farmers in the Omaheke region over the delayed dispatch of government tractors to assist with ploughing, Omaheke chief regional officer Peka Semba has explained that his office is busy crafting a permanent and sustainable solution for the use of state tractors. According to many farmers who spoke to...
As Namibia’s annual rainy season continues, it presents major opportunities for the nation’s agricultural sector to utilise the much-needed moisture to increase agricultural productivity and enhance its annual contribution to the GDP. If farmers use the rain appropriately, it can directly influence the outputs from many farming ventures. Rainfall plays a vital role in replenishing...
Annelie Coleman Fertility and optimum meat production are the two pillars of Diethelm and Katja Metzger’s Kamab Simbra Stud. The second-largest Simbra stud herd in southern Africa, which produces about 370 weaners a year. ‘Your profit is our concern’ is the motto of Diethelm and Katja Metzger’s Simbra stud, and this sentiment is firmly emphasised...
Crop farmers in the Kavango East region are anticipating bumper returns on their hard work, especially given the recent good rain showers witnessed countrywide, however, some are sceptical of what the future holds. The region’s farmers say inconsistent rainfall and prolonged dry spells have dampened hopes of a bumper harvest, with many crops struggling...
Tisha Steyn Smart agriculture can address the four main challenges in Namibia’s food production: affordability, market access, climate resilience, and long-term food stability. This will culminate in sustainable food security, which is presently vulnerable to risk. Building a resilient future requires rethinking how Namibia produces food more efficiently and sustainably, and with stronger links from...
Max Henrich OMUTHIYA – Following several days of consistent rainfall, Oshikoto region governor Sacky Kathindi has urged all farmers in the region to prepare their fields promptly and to plant sufficient crops to ensure family food security and potential surplus. Speaking to Nampa on Friday, Kathindi said that the abundant rainfall in northern Namibia is...
Namibian rangelands offer a diverse range of forage resources for both livestock and wildlife. These plant groups include grass, trees, bushes and forbs utilised by both grazing and browsing animals. Grass, however, is the primary feed base for grazing livestock in Namibia. The abundance of the most valuable grass species in many parts of the...
A good rainy season should be perceived as one that starts on time as anticipated, is well distributed throughout the season, and ultimately rehydrates the soil, refills water sources, and revegetates the rangeland. However, of late, rainfall patterns have been conspicuously erratic, and their effects can be concerning. Although rainfall brings relief to farmers, it...