Farmers Forum

WINDHOEK - Farmers in Namibia now have new crop varieties of cowpea and sorghum that are more tolerant to drought and pests planted this year, thanks to nuclear technology provided with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). 

WINDHOEK – Desperate, drought-stricken Namibian farmers have launched a resurgence of the importance of studies which indicate that poultry litter has carried many southern African livestock producers through the previous droughts.

WINDHOEK - Small-scale and emerging poultry producers are about to enter a new era with Namibians’ appetite for chicken at an all-time high. 

WINDHOEK - The Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) in cooperation with the Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers Union (NECFU) has urgently requested the agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb to declare the 2019 drought a national disaster. 

WINDHOEK - Due to financial shortages, the annual farm inspections system of the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) is now being reviewed and it boils down to the fact that farms that do not form part of the surveillance zone will only receive farm inspections on an ad hoc basis. 

WINDHOEK – Donations to the Dare to Care Fund under the umbrella of the Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU) currently stand at N$4.1 million and yesterday the distribution of 76 000 bags of subsidised animal feed to drought-stricken farmers started. 

WINDHOEK – Last week’s 100 percent successful Swakara auction in Copenhagen was characterised by the numerous buyers from China who showed a great taste for white Swakara when Cui Biao, CEO of Oriental Lady, bought the Top Lot for an average of N$551.06 per pelt. 

WINDHOEK - After farming for 25 years and having reached retirement age, one of Namibia’s most prominent black farmer, community leader and torchbearer for communal farmers Albert Tjihero says he is disillusioned about the future of black farmers. 

WINDHOEK – The quantity and quality of Namibia’s water is continuously being compromised, especially due to changes in climatic conditions resulting from periodic droughts and devastating floods, according to Namibia’s Ambassador to France who is also the permanent delegate of Namibia to Unesco, Albertus Aochamub. 

WINDHOEK - Namibia is suffering the worst drought in recent history, with the entire country affected by the dry conditions leaving rangelands barren and parched.