By John Muyamba
RUNDU – Kavango East Governor, Dr Samuel Mbambo, has said previously disadvantaged people still struggle and hustle to access financial assistance meant to develop farmers, as the requirements are not easily met.
He made this remark during the AgriBank stakeholders’ meeting held in Rundu last week Wednesday, an event attended by various farmers from Kavango East as well as Kavango West, businesspeople, officials from different ministries in the region and local authority and political leaders.
He said while some people have benefitted from this bank, the majority – especially the previously disadvantaged people – are still finding it hard to have access to the Agricultural Bank.
“The main stumbling block are the requirements of this bank. These requirements are beyond the reach of the previously disadvantaged people of our nation. I, therefore, appeal to those who have the power to revise the requirements for it to take the previously disadvantaged people into consideration,” he noted.
Mbambo further said even though it is a fact that banks are in the business of making money, AgriBank should focus on its mandate, as it is a special bank that was established with a specific purpose of developing the agricultural industry.
“With its distorted economic history, this bank must make a difference in the upcoming small-scale farmers. Food production is the most important industry in every nation, and Namibia is not an exception, and for a country to develop her food production industry the farmers must be empowered,” he stated.
“Namibia has a vision to be realised by 2030. All our development sectors are expected to achieve a certain benchmark by 2030,” he said.
Mbambo, however, said the question Namibians need to ask themselves is whether AgriBank will achieve her benchmark by 2030.
“Whether the Namibian farmer, especially the formerly disadvantaged farmer, will also realise her/his dream with the current setup and operations of AgriBank. This is one of the questions that will need our attention during our deliberations,” said the regional govenor.
The governor feels the success of AgriBank will be measured by the progress of the formerly disadvantaged small-scale farmers, that is, by looking at how many small-scale or subsistence farmers were assisted by the bank to become large-scale farmers.
“I have a particular interest in the developing of local food production and how it may effectively supplement standard food delivery system. These are producers who engage in what has been called retail agriculture, marketing their products directly to consumers, local schools, hospitals, supermarkets and other entities. This is one aspect of the agro-industry that AgriBank should pay attention to,” Mbambo further stated.
“We need to keep our focus closely on agriculture. As long as people eat, agriculture will remain the important part of our industries,” he said.