Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Farmers concerned about poisonous plant

Home Farmers Forum Farmers concerned about poisonous plant

Julia Kamarenga

Gobabis-Omaheke farmers are suggesting the harvesting of a poisonous plant on a government subsidised plan as one means of combatting the disastrous effect of the plant on farming activities in the region.

The farmers also suggested that the matter be tackled aggressively with studies being carried out to ascertain what the harvested plant could be used for. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources visited the Omaheke Region to consult the community on a motion on poisonous plants and the motion on the reintroduction of vaccinations and subsidisation for supavax, anthrax and brucellosis.

The farmers see it fit for the government to provide them with subsidised vaccines.
Namibian farmers are faced with various challenges including the poisonous plant known as otjikurioma in Otjiherero and scientifically as Dichapetalum cymosum, which is prevalent in most parts of Omaheke.

The farming community present at the consultative meeting expressed grave concern about the damage caused by the poisonous plant yearly.

According to Dr Baby Kaurivi of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, farmers have in the past tried various measures, such as controlling and supervising the provision of water to livestock, moving to areas uninfected with the poisonous plant, and other measures, to address the problem but none have yielded a lasting solution.

* Julia Kamarenga is an information officer with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology based in Gobabis.