By Wezi Tjaronda
WINDHOEK
Registered farmers in the six crop producing regions of the country can now access inputs at subsidised rates.
This follows the introduction of a maize, pearl millet and fertiliser pilot programme aimed at improving crop production.
The programme, introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry’s Division of Extension and Engineering Services, allows registered farmers to purchase these inputs at half price.
The Agricultural Inputs and Food Security Report said the seeds and fertiliser pilot programme for the 2007/8 farming season will assist farmers afford input supplies and help them increase crop production.
During the 2005/6 farming season, farmers received tools such as ploughs and cultivators through the Productivity Upliftment Micro Projects Programme. They were also allowed to purchase oxen at subsidised prices through the Draught Animal Power Acceleration Programme.
The report said availability of seeds was of major concern especially to farmers in the Caprivi Region, where the farmers’ association had to source seeds from Zambia.
The report said although farmers store their own seeds, they did not have good quality seeds because of low rainfall, floods and damage by animals. The quality of the seeds is also questionable due to poor storage.
Shortages of seeds such as pearl millet and maize, draught animals, tractors and fertiliser were reported in almost all the regions that the assessment teams visited.
Some farmers had problems travelling to the nearest market for seeds and this might reduce their chances of using improved seed varieties, the report said.
The report said it was not advocating free seed distribution but that the Government, private sector, seed cooperatives and farmers’ organisations coordinate to ensure that improved seed varieties are collected and distributed to points where growers can easily access them.
However, the report recommended that the mi-nistry oversee the production of white maize in the Caprivi Region to reduce the price of seeds.
“There is need for the Interim Seed Council to consider these issues and advise accordingly in order to avoid the annual ad hoc seed distribution strategies,” the report said.
Although farmers use tractors for cultivation, prohibitive hire rates have limited their use, a situation that has forced many to rely on draught animals. Presently, draught animals are weak because of the prevailing drought and the use of hoes for planting is labour intensive.
The same applies to far-mers in the north central regions where the pastures have deteriorated which might also delay planting.
Many farmers in Oshana and Omusati regions also lost draught animals to internal parasites.
Last season, tractor ser-vices cost between N$180 and N$300 per hectare and are likely to increase because of high demand and increases in fuel costs.
The communities have requested the Government to regulate or subsidise private tractor hire charges and services.
The services were privatised in 2000 after an assessment by the ministry found that the function of most tractors has been diverted from the initial intention of increasing productivity.
The tractors were privatised to increase the man hours cultivated and to increase productivity but in all the regions, private tractors are in short supply and the few that are available charge exorbitant rates.
When this function was still under the ministry, farmers paid N$12 per hectare.