I must wholeheartedly applaud and take my hat off to all organisers of agricultural seminars and summits for making the effort and taking the time to create platforms and opportunities that will benefit small and large-scale farmers in the long term.

Traditionally, farmers have limited access to vital information and inadequate opportunities for the best and modern financial, as well as administrative tools and techniques; therefore, there is a growing need to bring farmers on board with all aspects of economic activities.

While local agriprenuers have been hard at work, creating and fostering relations that can and will expand Namibia’s agricultural sector, I must also point out the somewhat exorbitant prices the organisers of those agricultural seminars and summits charge for attendance. 

Mind you, these seminars and summits are in essence created and hosted for the benefit of the many small-scale farmers who have zero access to financing and information about the latest skills and techniques of farming. 

But many a time, organisers charge anything between N$200 to N$500 just to attend those very important seminars and summits, which I strongly believe no small-scale farmer can afford or will be willing to pay at the expense of basic food items for the family. 

I am not saying the organisers of these agricultural seminars and summits should make the events free of charge, as countless efforts and finances go into putting those events up. 

But all I am asking from the respective organisers is to start making provisions for small-scale farmers, who want to attend these vital gatherings but cannot afford them, as they might be currently running unprofitable businesses. 

If the gathering can only accommodate 200 people, let us try our very best to at least make 20 seats free of charge to farmers who can not afford to pay the expected entrance fee. 

Sponsors are usually not very difficult people when it comes to catering for such members of our society. 

Because we come to these events and all you see are commercial farmers who are already established and have access to finance, we see no deliberate effort to bring small-scale farmers on board and make them part of the larger process. 

Why? Because the ticket process to these events says otherwise about inclusion and holding hands as one people working towards a common goal. 

The point I am driving home is that whenever organisers approach potential sponsors, it should be a must that out of those 100 or 200 seats, at least 5% of those seats should be reversed for farmers who want to attend and share in the experience but cannot afford to buy tickets. 

Away from the monetary or profit part of things, such an arrangement will add value to the event and go a long way in leaving a lasting legacy and impact on the lives and operations of the farmers. 

Empowerment, empowerment and more empowerment to all and sundry is all I am calling for my fellow farmers; nothing else!

Until next time we meet in the kraal, bye-bye!