The five perecnt levy on the import of certain grain, grain products, vegetables and fruit will have a negative impact on the agricultural economy in Namibia as well as on the local value addition in the country. This is the view of the Executive Council of the Namibia Agricultural Union who held a meeting last week in Windhoek.
The five percent levy on the import of products such as wheat and white maize (as well as by-products and processed products thereof) does not only influence the agronomic and horticultural sector, but also the intensive commodities such as milk, pig- and chicken commodities that are dependent on the import of especially processed and by-products for the feeding of their animals and chicken.
The Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF) announced these levies at the end of last year and again last week in two separate government gazettes. The levy will be used to finance the activities of the Agricultural Marketing and Trade Agency (AMTA). AMTA was implemented by the MAWFto act as agent for the Agronomic Board. AMTA already has erected two hubs in Rundu and Ongwediva and a third one is planned for Windhoek. The aim of these multimillion dollars projects is to give the opportunity to producers to market their products.
NAU seeks cooperation with game producers
A need has been identified by the Executive Council of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) to liaise closer with game producers. At this stage the Namibia Professional Hunters Association (NAPHA) represents mainly the trophy hunting industry, but there is a need that the interest of farmers, who keep game as an additional source of income, must also be looked after.
Organised structures that represent this commodity, are requested to get in contact with contact Mr Coetzee at NAU at Tel 061 237838, sakkie@agrinamibia.com.na.
Predators become problems for stock farmers
During the past meeting of the Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO) the question about losses due to predators was again discussed. At this stage it is difficult to look at specific figures, but especially jackals and caracals in the South and cheetahs and leopards in the North are responsible for big losses of stock farmers.
This issue will be discussed with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism as well as role players to see whether a solution can be found for the problem.