WINDHOEK – Farmers in the area of Okakarara do not benefit from government tractors, because “traditionally they are not crop, but livestock farmers.”
This is according to Okakarara constituency councillor, Vetaruhe Kandorozu, who spoke to this newspaper earlier in the week. “Government said Otjozondjupa is a non-crop farming region therefore we cannot receive tractors. On the contrary, they provided seeds to the communities, what are the seeds for then?” he queried. This sentiment was however dismissed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Joseph Iita, who indicated that crop farmers in the Okakarara area are not the only ones who are yet to be assisted. “The reason why they have not received tractors yet is because of the non-availability of tractors, but we are in the process of buying new tractors,” explained the permanent secretary. “Some areas that are classified as non-crop farming areas have already received tractors, so it is a lie to say that the Okakarara constituency was not assisted, because it is a non-crop farming area,” he said. “If they want four tractors than they are joking, there are also other areas with no tractors. Even crop farming areas such as Okahao and Tsandi still do not have tractors, so it is really a matter of availability. But we have a tender running at the moment and our officials are evaluating bids in order to buy more tractors,” Iita further explained. Most communal farmers still cultivate their land using ox-drawn ploughs and hand-held hoes.
The use of tractors is common among only well-off farmers. As a result, Kandorozu said there are several people in the constituency who are in need of government ploughing services to boost crop production, which was heavily affected by the recent drought.
Kandorozu wrote to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry last month requesting “four farm tractors with drivers to hustle the cultivation process in the Okakarara constituency.” Kandorozu said although the ministry has confirmed receiving the letter a month ago, no response has been forthcoming yet.
“The capacity of the four manual walk-behind tractors at extension offices has hampered smooth ploughing due to the immensity of the constituency,” part of the letter to the ministry read.
“Food Security is a growing concern to many rural poor, who are affected the most and face numerous socio- economic challenges such as high unemployment, poverty, income inequality and a high HIV prevalence rate among others,” the letter continued. Kandorozu said manual walk-behind tractors were provided to the constituency office, but they are not effective because it takes about three days just to plough one hectare of land. “We received good rains, but the fields are not ploughed because people do not have the resources to do so. Most of the seed we distributed is going to waste, because people are just keeping it in their homes,” he said. “Tractors are distributed in other regions but they have excluded us, are they saying no one has the ability to plough and plant in the area,” said the councillor further. “In total four tonnes of white maize seeds were received from officials of the extension engineering services department for distribution to about 75 percent of farmers practicing agronomic farming in the constituency,” Kandorozu said. The situation, according to him, affects the region’s food security efforts negatively.
By Mathias Haufiku