Farmers in the Omusati Region have received a state-of-the-art livestock centre and farmers market valued at nearly N$24 million.
The infrastructure development on a 40,000 hectares of land at Amarika, which was handed over to a consortium of 122 farmers, was made possible by the European Union (EU) and the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW Development Bank in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform was constructed at a cost of N$23.8 million.
“This milestone is a fraction of infrastructure developments that the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform has managed to install in several designated communal areas of the Omusati, Ohangwena, Kavango East, Kavango West, Zambezi, Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions to the value of N$181.1 million for an overall total of 490,000 hectares of land,” the Agriculture ministry said.
The facilities inaugurated by Agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein are meant to uplift the livelihoods of communal farmers by empowering them with modern farming facilities to start farming commercially.
“The farming infrastructure developed on communal land under the current financial tripartite agreement so far includes; 74 installed boreholes, 169 kilometers of water pipelines, 877 kilometres of fencing, and 20 cattle handling facilities amongst others,” said the ministry.
Apart from farming infrastructure development, added the ministry, significant financial and technical support has also been given to ensure security of tenure through communal land registration, harmonised land use plans through integrated regional land use planning.
“In addition to improved farming methods through advisory services as well as enhancing efficiency through capacity building within the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform.”
The Ministry said a thorough consultative process with the respective Regional Governors, Traditional Authorities, Regional Councils, Communal Land Boards, and beneficiaries was undertaken to ensure consensus through the integrated regional land use planning as well as communal land allocation and registration processes.
“The handover of infrastructure investments to farming beneficiaries is a formidable example in terms of securing the livelihoods and socioeconomic progression of people living in the communal areas of Namibia.
For decades, the support towards agriculture, water and land reform in Namibia has been a high priority on the agenda of the Government and its development partners,” it added.
“Therefore, this type of infrastructure developments will go a long way towards improving the livelihoods of the people living in the communal areas of Namibia as well the commercialisation of small-scale subsistence farmers for increased agricultural productivity, food security and ultimately food self-sufficiency.”
Meanwhile, a butchery will be opened in Outapi on Thursday, making it a second arm of Amarika Farmer’s Cooperative in addition to that in Okahao.
The opening of the butchery is another step in the right direction that will see local residents getting meat supplies at their doorstep as a result of strategic planning.
