WINDHOEK – More than 300 representatives from the agricultural sector in all its diversity are expected to pour into Windhoek for the Second Agricultural Outlook Conference to take place on October 8 in Windhoek.
The event will be hosted by the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), and formidable local and international speakers will tackle some of the burning issues in agriculture in their respective presentations. Seven sponsors and partners – the Namibian Agronomic Board, FNB Namibia, Sanlam, Santam, Feedmaster, Meatco and the Meat Board of Namibia – have joined hands to ensure that the Second Agricultural Outlook Conference will be one of the highlights on the industry’s 2014 calendar.
This year’s theme is The Contribution of Industrialisation and Technology to Agricultural Development, and some 350 people from Namibia and bordering countries are expected at the prestigious event. Confirming the conference, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NAU, Sakkie Coetzee, says this year’s audience can look forward to a very exciting programme. Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF) John Mutorwa will officially open the proceedings and then Minister of Trade and Industry, Calle Schlettwein, will address the audience on: Growth at Home: expectations of the agricultural sector to achieve the objectives of the industrialisation policy. Professor Johan Kirsten of the University of Pretoria will deal with The importance and contributions of intensive commodities to the Namibian agricultural sector and the Namibian economy while Daniel Motinga, Chief Economist of FNB will look at Global economics and prospects for agriculture in the Namibian economy.
Other speakers at the event are Professor Hannes Rautenbach, Dr Henning Steinfeld, Brand Pretorius and Professor Tim Noakes. Professor Noakes will entertain the audience by asking what is healthy food and do we produce healthy food? Prof Noakes of the University of Cape Town has been making headlines worldwide with his recommended diet of red meat, fatty food and no sugar and very little fruit.