NDONGA LINENA – Chairperson of the Ndonga Linena Small-Scale Farmers (SSFs) Boysen Mutelo has complained that they feel sabotaged by those entrusted with managing key green scheme projects.

This is because farmers have not yet received their fertilisers and seeds. 

Mutelo shared these grievances with Kavango East governor Hamunyera Hambyuka during a recent engagement. 

He said they have not yet planted anything, as the necessary implements have not yet been given to them. 

“For the last 15 years, we have raised these concerns with high-ranking officials who visit us, but nothing has improved. Even now, we are stuck, as the manager has refused to assist us, saying only in September will he provide the implements,’’ said a frustrated Mutelo.

He stated that their poor performance over the years has been due to high input and electricity costs, which have also prevented them from graduating to a medium-scale farming level. 

“We pay the high electricity rate. Whether you plant or not, you must pay. We all know that farming is a seasonal thing where you don’t generate income monthly. For example, from May to September, we will be charged while we did not plant or utilise any electricity. By the time we go into the next planting season, we will have accumulated debt. This has affected us since graduation because we are not generating enough money. Input costs are high,’’ he said.

“We want the ministry to introduce solar power or make a decision for Nampower to connect these projects directly for us to be charged reasonably or at least subsidise to meet us halfway,” he suggested.

Mutelo noted that despite their seeds being delivered by the supplier on 24 June, they were not handed over to them. 

He said the commercial farm manager Jano Rentel at the projects used their stock to plant and gave the leftovers to Shadikongoro to plant while they were left hanging. 

Rentel, however, disputed their claims but failed to provide proof to the governor and audience regarding what was delivered under their name for the farmers. 

Hambyuka said: “I have a programme to visit government green schemes in this region and the reason for being here is part of the 8th administration to make sure that food security in the region and country is covered. We don’t want citizens to suffer while we have the land and tools, where we can produce our food. I’m here to see what you have planted and the challenges. 

From here, I will compile a report that I will share with the President,’’