By Wezi Tjaronda WINDHOEK The quality of livestock exhibited at the Epukiro Agricultural Show has improved so much that farmers think they will be the overall winners at next week’s regional show in Okamatapati. Over 20 animals from Epukiro will be on show in the Otjozondjupa Region. Epukiro Councillor, Brave Tjizera, told New Era yesterday he was pleasantly surprised at the good quality livestock that farmers brought to the show which was held last weekend. “Looking at the animals, they could be winners in the coming show in Okamatapati,” he said, adding, “The animals are of a high standard and are well taken care of. They just lack land.” Fifty-two cattle and 25 goats and sheep were exhibited at last weekend’s show, which attracted thousands of visitors. The show was also attended by representatives of First National Bank and Bank Windhoek, Meatco and all traditional leaders in the constituency. Other products exhibited at the show included seedlings, woven chairs, calabashes and food crops. A number of farmers emerged winners of different breeds of cattle, goats and sheep and were awarded trophies. The winner in the Charolais category was Vasana Ndjavera, while Benny Murangi scooped the prize for the Simmentaler breed. Steven Kavari, who is the chairperson of the East Epukiro Farmers Association, won a prize for his Brahman bull. As for the small stock, Turimuro Hoveka won the prize for the best Boer goat. while Johnny Kavari came out tops in the sheep category. Ace Kavari, who was mandated by the Chairperson to speak to New Era yesterday, said the show was well attended and attracted people from as far as Okakarara and Okamatapati. He reiterated the councillor’s sentiments that the show had grown in magnitude and also in the quality of the animals exhibited. “The quality is just the same as that of the animals exhibited at the Windhoek Show Society,” Kavari added. To enable other farmers to improve their breeds of cattle, Kavari said good cattle breeds would be available for sale to communal farmers who cannot afford to travel to commercial farms to buy the improved breeds during the show period in 2007. Tjizera expressed concern about the lack of banking facilities in the area, which has sometimes resulted in losses of money especially during cattle auctions. He appealed to the two banks which financed the show to conduct feasibility studies to determine the viability of opening branches in the area, where he said between N$100ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000 and N$4ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 400ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000 is in circulation during livestock auctions. “If they open up branches, people’s money will be secure and the constituency will develop,” said the EEFA chairman.