THE main challenge of the government regarding rural inhabitants is to uplift them from abject poverty and give the majority of people residing in rural areas a better sense of hope for a better life.
The majority of people residing in rural areas are mostly dependent on mixed agriculture (farming) enterprises as their sole provider of both food and income. However, food and income generated are also being shared among the extended families. Julius K Nyerere, the late and founding president of Tanzania in March 1961 made a moving statement expressing how rural (village) inhabitants are important for Tanzania’s national agenda. His statement was: ‘’While other people can aim at reaching the moon, and while in future we might aim at reaching the moon, our present aim must be directed at reaching the villages.”
Having said and quoted the above, there is a great need for the government to design programmes and projects that really benefit rural inhabitants and create a business value chain through adding value to agricultural output.
The migration of the population from rural areas are the yardstick from which one can draw a conclusion that development and initiatives aimed at uplifting rural inhabitants are close to the edge.
Rural areas stand a better chance to prevent urban migration if development projects aimed at assisting them make changes to their lives. Agricultural advice is moving at a slow pace. Firstly, communities are not well trained on how to adapt to different climatic conditions so that they increase farming productivity.
Secondly, the low level of technology and the dominant use of traditional methods of cultivation also a result in low productivity. Even though there are community farmers’ associations, some farmers are not motivated by the information they acquire through farm meetings. The reasons might be the traditional way of living which they stick to.
A lack of capacity building amongst the rural inhabitants also hampers the progress of self-sustainability amongst people living in rural areas. Technological equipment will make life easier as they will help turn agricultural by-products into finished goods. Animal skins can be turned into by-products. For example, belts, jackets, handbags, shoes, blankets and many other products.
The idea to establish a tannery in Ondangwa was a good initiative indeed as it is also geared towards assisting rural livestock farmers to sell their animal hides. Such an idea will not only benefit the rural community but the country at large.
It is a shame that we cannot even produce belts of our own. In countries such as Tanzania, or elsewhere in India, these are products you buy in streets produced by their own people. Mahangu or maize stalks can be used as animal feed and compost manure. Another by-product that can be produced from mahangu or maize stalks is books, which can be used in school. We cannot continue exporting everything.
Nevertheless, I must express my appreciation to the Onankali paper making project for realizing the idea of producing books, envelopes and many other products from mahangu stalks. This kind of development is indeed a good step as far as rural development is concerned.
I appeal to the government to fund them because believing in our own industries will take us to an industrialized nation.
By the way which growth at home are we referring if we cannot fund our own people who have good initiatives especially those living in rural areas?
These things can only be realized if communities are being trained in those various aspects. I believe that growth at home must start at village level if Namibia wants to move ahead towards the realisation of NDP4 and Vision 2030.
Lastly, there is great need for different line ministries to harmonise and coordinate development initiatives aimed at reducing rural poverty.
Policies and programmes must talk to each other so that they cannot negate and compromise the purpose of integration planning and development programmes and projects.
Twiihendeni Israel
(A member of the SPYL Central Committee and a horticultural farmer based at Etunda Irrigation Scheme)