Wezi Tjaronda
14 May 2008
Windhoek — Communal farmers in five regions of the country can now improve their breeds after receiving breeding material from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry's livestock breeding material scheme.
The scheme started last year to improve the quality of livestock herds among communal farmers in the 12 regions which have communal farms.
The ministry has handed over 23 bulls, one boer goat ram and one indigenous goat ram to 25 communal farmers in Kunene, Kavango, Otjozondjupa, Oshikoto and Oshana regions.
In the project, the ministry provides improved breeding males at subsidised prices of around N$1 500 for bulls and N$500 for sheep or goat rams.
Deputy Director for Livestock Research and Production in the Ministry, Petoorua Mate, told New Era Monday the Omaheke and Caprivi regions are done with the application process, while the ministry is finalising the dates for the handover.
Mate said other regions are in the process of selecting the communal farmers that have qualified for the scheme. Before being selected to participate in the scheme, communal farmers should satisfy certain criteria which include enough grazing in their area, knowledge of animal production and be in possession of at least 10 cows or 20 ewes which should be verified by agricultural extension officers.
The farmers apply to a selection committee, which comprises ministry officials, farmer associations and marketing committees at regional level. The names are then forwarded to the Regional Intra ministerial Forum for approval.
Deputy Minister Isak Katali said during the handover of the breeding material at Omatjene Research Station in Otjozondjupa Region that the scheme is meant to improve the lives of communal farmers, which will lead to improved food security and wealth creation through selling of high quality livestock.
Katali said the scheme, which is open to all communal farmers, is aimed at integrating as many farmers as possible into the mainstream economy.
The deputy minister asked the farmers to cooperate for the scheme to become successful.
According to the contract that participating farmers have signed with the ministry, farmers will keep the animals for two years and can only give them away after the two-year period.
Katali warned: "Should it happen that the animal is disposed of without authorisation of the ministry, the recipients will be held liable."
Mate said it would take farmers another five years to benefit from the scheme again.
The animals are bred at Namibia's research stations. As of last year, 67 animals were available to be given out.
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