WINDHOEK - Petrus Kudumo, from Mashare Constituency in the Kavango East Region is the 2018 National Mahangu Grand Champion for the large-scale producer category.
The small-scale producer category winner of the year is Mr. Robert Makota from Kavango West Region.
The Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF) hosted the Annual Mahangu Harvest Festival competition awards ceremony last Wednesday at the Kavango East Regional Council Auditorium, in Rundu. The NAB introduced the competition, to give recognition to farmers who have implemented improved farming and cultivation methods to maximise their yield of mahangu, by planting good quality seeds and at the same time using the available arable land efficiently.
As it is a tradition since the establishment of the Mahangu Harvest Festival competiton awards in 2002, the event takes place in the region where the National Grand Mahangu Champion (large-scale producer category winner) of the year is from. Hence the location of the ceremony this year.
The competition recognises mahangu producers in two categories. Category 1: National Grand Championship, which is for producers that planted on more than 10 hectares (large-scale) and Category 2: National Championship, which is producers that planted on 5 to 10 hectares (small scale). Regional winners in Category 1 include; Fabian Sisamu (Zambezi region), Petrus Kudumo (Kavango East Region), Markus Muhongi (Kavango West), Benedicta Hausiku (Otjozondjupa Region), Fillipus Daniel (Ohangwena Region), Michael Shelungu (Oshikoto Region), Maria Stefanus (Oshana Region) and Josafat Aipinge (Omusati Region).
Regional winners in Category 2 include; Robert Kamwayamunzi (Zambezi Region), Elias Ndumba (Kavango-East Region), Robert Makota (Kavango-West Region), Hellene Mukuve (Otjozondjupa Region), Elia Linoovene (Ohangwena Region), Paulus Kashikola (Oshikoto Region), Werner Shiinda (Oshana Region) and Cecilia Amutenya (Omusati Region).
Reflecting on the event, Dr Fidelis Mwazi, the CEO of NAB, explains that is important to encourage food production through market regulation since the country cannot depend on imports as a means of food security. “Hence the need for the consumption of what she produces before restoring to import. Thus, The Namibian Agronomic Board will continue to promote agronomic production, marketing, processing and storage through market regulations to ensure food security in the country.”