WINDHOEK – The sector Stakeholder Meeting for HIV and Wellness of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry has initiated a pilot testing programme according to which all farmers and their workers can get free wellness testing during auctions.
The pilot programme is sponsored by the GIZ in cooperation with Pharm Access, who will then have a mobile clinic at the day of the auction. Testing will be done for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, BMI (Body Mass Index and HIV.
The first two opportunities earmarked for this are the Agra auction at Rehoboth today and the Agra auction at Otjiwarongo on Thursday, March 6. During these auctions there will be a mobile clinic of Pharm Access at the relevant auction grounds from 09:00 in the morning until 16:00 in the afternoon. Farmers are requested to come themselves and bring as many workers and their families along to have them tested free of charge. The main objective of this pilot project is to test the potential approach of bringing HIV and Wellness services to the farmers and their farm workers efficiently. If this is successful, it can be extended to other auctions, farmer association days and agricultural shows.
Monitoring framework for farmers
A group of experts which include rangeland specialists, economists, agricultural organisations and farmers this week attended a workshop in Windhoek for the development of a monitoring framework for farmers and their organisations. The objective of the framework will be to collect basic information with regard to rangeland, production, finances, labour, marketing and risks. This information can then be used by farmers as well as assisting organisations in the agricultural sector with the evaluation as well as planning of their farming activities.
The workshop was offered by the Farmers Support Programme (FSP) with the assistance of the GIZ. The workshop only focused on livestock and rangeland.
A few years ago the NAU developed a similar programme, namely the AgriStat and introduced it to farmers. Unfortunately only few farmers have this programme and there is a big deficiency in the market for basic information for evaluation and planning purposes. There are study groups in the commercial agricultural sector who have this information and who sometimes kindly make it available to the NAU. However, there is a lack of such information for especially emerging and resettled farmers and the objective of the development of such a programme is to also include these farmers.
The first round was mainly about the identification of critical factors, which should be measured. The development of a mechanism to measure this information will most probably be discussed in depth at the next meeting.
2013 Young Farmer of the Year farmers’ day
The Farmer’s Day of the 2013 Young Farmer of the Year takes place on March 12 on the Farm Silversand, 90km east of Windhoek of Marco and Regine Seefeldt. The programme begins at 08:00 and a sightseeing tour on the farm begins at 09:00. A programme for the women as well as a mini show will also take place. Registration is N$170 for adults and N$70 for children 6 – 16 years. All meals included. Interest persons must RSVP before 28 February 2014 at Sylvia Henke, Tel 081 2317823, sylviaheld@hotmail.com, Carola Raad, Tel 081 3680962 or Marco & Regine Seefeldt, Tel 081 2965802 or seefeldt@iway.na.
Meat production school
The bi-annual NSV Meat Production School will be held on March 19 and 20 at the Heja Game Lodge outside Windhoek. The programme starts on March 19 at 08:00 with registration and speakers are inter alia Prof Johann Willemse, Dr Jasper Coetzee, Dr Dietmar Holm, Adri Nell & Gerrie Scholz, Norbert Dörgeloh, Derrick Wright, Dr Munro Marx, Prof Frikkie Neser, Prof Louw Hoffmann, Dr Niel van Zyl, Dr Michael Bradfield, Leon Lubbe, Pieter Hugo, Judith Isele and Mecki Schneider. The program is opened by Ryno van der Merwe. On March 20 from 14:00 – 16:00 a programme for the women is offered. The costs for the full programme is N$1 100, which includes course material, lunches, coffee and dinner. Registration for one day only is N$550 and for the women’s programme N$150 whereby tea and cake is included. For further details contact Jacques Els, Tel 081 1281032 or jacque@iway.na.
Meatco Inter Farmers Association Braai competition
The 34th Inter Farmer Association Braai competition is offered this year by last year’s winner, Uhlenhorst Farmers Association at the well known Bitterwasser Lodge on March 28 and 29. Besides the 19 Farmers Association and 20 social teams who will compete for this title, there will for the first time this year also a Junior braai competition for respectively primary and high school children. Entries are limited to a certain amount and close on March 15.
Besides the usual exhibitors and food stalls, there will be also various entertainments such as airgun shooting, where an airgun can be won, jumping castles and much more. To support the costs for the two days there will also be a silent auction where various items such as a Sussex bull (for farmers) hunting packets and many more are offered.
The gates open for the public on Friday, March 28 at 12:00 and in the evening will be the opening, welcome and introduction of the braai teams during the Meatco reception. On Saturday, March 29 it is the braai day with all other activities. The day is concluded with the prize giving, a steak braai and dance with Andre Havenga. For further details contact Hoekus van Niekerk 063 – 265336 or 081 128 3511, Annalie v d Merwe 063- 265608 or 081 232 0707, Willie Krugel 063- 265311 or 081 249 2509.
FA and other news
Helmeringhausen FA will hold a meeting on tomorrow at 10:00 at the FA centre. For further details contact Timm Miller, Tel 081 2079974, miller@mtcmobile.com.na.
The SA Boerperd breeders are hosting an open and information day on Saturday, March 8 at 08:00 at Farm Keizen, 36km north of Steinhausen. A Namibian Club will be formed and for further information and to register before tomorrow, March 5, please contact Loïse Swanepoel, Tel 081 1443952, hochfeldcattle@gmail.com or Henriëtte le Grange, Tel 081 1279170, hh@iway.na.
Amos Namibia / Channel 7 will hold a thanks giving service for the rain on Sunday, March 9 at 09:30 at Farm Excelsior No 286 of Mr Johan Deysel in the Seeis vicinity. Owners and workers should please bring along their own chairs. For further details contact Mr Johan Deysel, Tel 081 1244466.
Hoërand FA is holding a members’ meeting next Tuesday, on March 11 at 15:00 at the FA hall at Farm Stubbenkamer, Maltahöhe district. The guest speaker is Danie de Lange from Feedmaster and a new management will be elected. Thus all members are requested to attend the meeting. The day is concluded with a bring and braai and further details can be obtained from Bartie Burger, Tel 081 3792626, antoiburger@gmail.com.
Blumfelde FA is hosting a women’s day next Wednesday, on March 12 at 09:00 at the FA hall. Marsha Botha will offer a make up course, a brow forming and weight loss programme. Trish and Frikkie Engelbrecht will hold a “True Colour” talk. The costs are N$60 per person. There will also be various stands where clothing, make up, etc can be bought. For further details contact Margret Binneman, Tel 081 4440334 or Maria de Waal, Tel 062 581201.
A talk about transboundary cross-border underground water is being held in English by Greg Christelis of the Geo Hydro Association on March 13 at 19:30 at the Scientific Society, 110 Robert Mugabe Ave, Windhoek. For further details contact Waltraud Fritzsche, Tel 061 225372, nwg@iway.na.
Karibib FA is holding a meeting on March 15 at 17:00 at Farm Kaltenhausen. Further details from Gladis, Tel 064 550939, 081 1284851, Doris.Gladis@elvey.co.za.
Kaiserstreet FA is holding its Annual General Meeting on March 15 at 08:00 at the Meatco feeding lot on the way to Okahandja. The costs are N$100 per person and please register before this Friday, March 7 with Gerda van der Westhuizen, Tel 061 253016, 081 1279021, kaiserstraatfarmersassociation@gmail.com.
Steinhausen FA is holding a members’ meeting on March 19 at 15:00 at the FA hall at Farm Steinhausen. For further details contact Mayke Rumpf, Tel 062 561422, combumbi@iway.na.
Maltahöhe FA is holding a members’ meeting on March 19 at 10:00 at Farm Nomtsas of Albert Voigts-von Schütz. Mr Axel Rothauge of AgriConsult Namibia will give lectures and practical in-field demonstrations about rangeland use and evaluation. For further details contact Mr Christian Otto, Tel 063 293512, ottojagd@iway.na.
Epukiro FA is holding their annual members’ meeting on March 26 at 15:00 at Farm Omaramba of Gert & Johanna Koekemoer. Messrs Heiner Böhme and Abrie van Wyk from Meatco will inter alia be speakers. For further details contact Johanna, Tel 062 568880.