2016-08-23Staff Report 2 Namibia Charcoal Association Conference and member meeting The Namibia Charcoal Association recently held a successful conference and member meeting at the Otjiwa Lodge near Otjiwarongo where 178 Delegates were present and charcoal related services and products of 10 exhibitors were displayed. The demonstration of a proto-type “retort-process” kiln was one of the highlights. Retort kilns burn much faster than the traditional kilns, produce cleaner coal and release less smoke. With financial assistance of GIZ, an expert engineer was contracted to develop this technology further for the use in Namibia. During his speech the Director of Forestry, Joseph Hailwa pointed out that his directorate is rather a partner than an enemy of the charcoal industry. He also invited members of this industry to discuss any problems with him. Keynote speaker was Dagmar Honsbein from the Namibia-Biomass Industry Group, N-Big, and she said that the most importance substance during wood development is chemicals which are under- developed and under-utilised. During the member meeting final approval was given that as from March 1, 2017 the Charcoal Association can register as a non-profit Article 21 Company which functions independent from the NAU. 9 Directors from the various charcoal regions were appointed for the new Company. The Company will still be affiliated at the NAU. In the meantime the office of the Charcoal Association has settled in Otjiwarongo and is operating and their new webpage will be functional as from September 1, 2016. For any charcoal related enquiries, please contact the manager, Pieter Potgieter of the administrator, Roelien Coffee at Tel No 067 304220. National Rangeland Forum The Coordinating Unit for the National Rangeland Management Policy and Strategy (NRMPS), in collaboration with Agra ProVision and Conservation Agriculture Namibia, is happy to announce that the 20th National Rangeland Forum (NRF) will take place at Heja Game Lodge, Windhoek from September 13 – 15. The program for the three days will be as follows: Tuesday 13 September -Afternoon session on effective rest and recovery with presentations by Leon Lubbe, Chief Agricultural Scientific Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Dr. Richard Fynn, Rangeland Expert from Botswana, Colin Nott, expert in communal rangeland management, and Ben Norton, Emeritus Associate Professor at Utah State University. This will be followed by a discussion session moderated by Mr. Bertus Kruger from AgraProvision. Wednesday 14 September -Full day session with presentations by farmers and scientists on best practices case studies and the latest research related to rangelands. Thursday 15 September - Field trip to two farms: Krumhuk (Mr. Ulf Voigts) Smalhoek (Mr. Helmut Stehn) A detailed agenda will be published closer to the forum. You can find the invitation and more information about the forum and how to register on our website – www.nrmps.org – and on our Facebook page – www.facebook.com/nrmps2015. You can also contact the Rangeland Coordinating Unit at marie@agrinamibia.com.na, 061 237838, for more information about the forum. The deadline for registration is 20 August. Please note that we have a maximum capacity of 120 participants, so registration will be on a first come, first serve basis. Registration can only be confirmed once the registration fee has been paid. Registration fee is N$300 per person. A Meatmaster course is offered from August 24 – 25 at the Stampriet FA kraal. The costs are N$450 per person which includes lunch, coffee and snacks. On August 24 in the evening a braai is held and can be bought. The course is offered by Clynton Collet, Jean du Plessis and Henk Kearny from South Africa. They are looking for sheep also with deformations such as x-legs, cow shins, big fait tails, very woolly especially on the stomach, problems with the mouth, etc. Registrations close at August 15, 2016. For further details and to register contact Dirk van der Merwe, Tel 063 261007, 081 6533336, mentien@iway.na. The Groundnut Association of Namibia is holding their annual Groundnut Member Meeting on August 25, 2016 at 10:00 at Pondoki, Grootfontein. All agronomists and interested parties are welcome to attend the day. For further details contact Jasper Blaauw, Tel 081 2158308, jasbla@iway.na. Kamab Simbra is hosting a cattle information day on August 30 at 09:00 at Farm Neu Otjisauona, Kamab at the Metzger family. For further details and to register contact Diethelm, Tel 062 503732, diethelm@kamab-simbra.com An Nguni farmer’s day in cooperation with the Osire-Waterberg FA is held on September 28 at 07:30 at Farm Penwood of Willie Lepen. Guest speakers are Prof Michiel Scholtz, Bertus Kruger, Kiep Lepen and Ingo Jacobi. Registration is N$100 per person which includes coffee, tea and lunch. Please register before September 14 with Janus Lepen, Tel 081 1247942. 2016-08-23Staff Report 2
