Conservation agriculture, intercropping and sustainability are words used by John and Adelma Damaseb, who carve out a living on Farm Okorusu, around 50 kilometres north of Otjiwarongo.

Around 25 female farmers from across Namibia recently visited the resettlement farm of the Damasebs to learn the finer art of agriculture, more especially farming with grass, mielies, beans and integrated farming, which involves cattle, small stock and poultry.

Tucked between the hills near the Okorusu mine, Farm Okoruru no. 88 is a resettlement farm. The Damasebs were resettled on a piece of land with one borehole only. Today, it is a model farm with over 150 hectares of land cleared and half of it under plantation. 

Government regularly takes other farmers there to witness environmentally friendly farming practices.

They recently hosted the Omkhaisensera Taradi Group, which consists of female farmers from Erongo, Kunene, Otjozondjupa, Khomas, Hardap and //Kharas regions.

Using a mix of practicals and lecture sessions, the group shared experiences on how to farm with poultry, pigs, small and large livestock, rabbits, as well as crop production.

Farm Okorusu served as a good experience as the Damaseb couple manually cleared around 150 hectares of land and are planting various crops as well as grass they sell as fodder.

In fact, during drought, they even donate grass to drought-stricken farmers in Kunene and Erongo regions.