RUNDU – Kavango East governor Bonifatius Wakudumo said the region has made progress in supporting the agriculture sector. During his state of the region address last week, the governor attributed this success to government agencies.
“We have focused on supporting our farmers, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. We have provided training and technical assistance to help them improve their yields and incomes, as well as access to markets for their products,’’ he noted.
“We believe that a thriving agricultural sector is crucial for the economic development of our region,’’ he remarked.
Wakudumo reported that through the Namibia Mechanisation and Seed Improvement Programme (NAMSIP) initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR), 29 tractors were procured with their matching implements to render all the services as stipulated under the Dry Land Crop Production Programme (DCPP).
“The implements received include hand-operated cultivators for weeding, hand-operated seedling transplanters and vegetable seed drillers as well as diesel chipper hammer mills for cattle feed, knapsack sprayers and walking tractors with matching implements,’’ he said.
Furthermore, the Directorate of Agriculture Production, Extension and Engineering Services (DAPEES) operationalised the three Green Scheme Projects in the Kavango East region that are under production, namely Shadikongoro, Uvhungu-Vhungu and Ndonga Linena.
At Uvhungu-Vhungu, during summer production, a total of 80 hectares (ha) of maize were planted with an average yield of seven tonnes/ha, totalling 560 tonnes harvested.
Furthermore, a total of 94 ha of wheat was planted during winter, which will be harvested before the next summer crop plantation.
Meanwhile, at Shadikongoro, during summer production, a total of 72 ha of maize was planted with an average yield of seven tonnes/ha.
There is no wheat production, as infrastructure is being repaired to prepare for the 2024/25 summer production.
Moreover, at Ndonga Linena, during the summer production, a total of 60 ha of maize was planted and harvested at 408.96 tonnes.
In addition, 33 ha were planted with oats, while 10 ha were planted with lucerne.
“To ensure timely production and sustainable and efficient crop production, continuous repair and maintenance of equipment is of utmost importance,’’ he said.
About farmer support programmes, “we have provided 19.5 tonnes of subsidised inputs such as seed and fertiliser, to 4 404 subsistence farmers; ploughing, ripping and planting services to 1 357 for a total of 3469 hectares; one storage facility (silos) and weeding services to 73 farmers,” he revealed.
Under the horticultural production programme, about 60 farmers were provided with subsidised inputs and equipment valued at N$647 034.
A further 422 farmers were trained in horticulture production, which has resulted in uninterrupted supplies of horticulture products in the region throughout the year.
“In the area of small stock development and distribution in communal areas, 420 goats were distributed to 20 farmers (21 goats per farmer) to all rural constituencies of the Kavango East region,’’ he noted.
The poultry value chain programme benefitted 84 poultry producers to the value of N$ 380 479.63.
Moreover, 71 poultry producers were trained in poultry-related farming methods.
In addition, through extension services, a total of 2 036 farmers received training and information on various agricultural topics and techniques.
In the government’s effort to provide access to the market for livestock farmers, Wakudumo highlighted that the Rundu abattoir has started operating, and cattle are slaughtered at the facility, which has created employment and stimulated economic activities downstream for small and medium enterprises that are purchasing products for reselling.
“The abattoir has a workforce of 64 fixed-term employees (eight casuals and 58 at quarantine camps), bringing the total to 130 employees, of which 10 employees were sourced directly from vulnerable communities from constituencies through the office of the regional governor for Kavango East,’’ he said.
-jmuyamba@nepc.com.na