THE Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry has appointed a new Karakul Board of Namibia, with some former members retaining their positions.

The three-year term of the outgoing board members ended on December 31 2012 and the new board was approved by Cabinet at the end of last year.

Shortly after the new board was welcomed, they elected a chairperson and vice chairperson.

The board consists of ten members with two vacant posts that will be filled by affirmative action/emerging Swakara producers.

Raimar von Hase was re-elected as the chairperson of the board, deputised by Gabriel Biwa.

Other members of the board are farmers Paulus Apollus and Johannes Slava Motinga.

The Swakara Breeders' Society is represented by Julene Meyer, with Reinhold Schreiber as alternate member, and Agra Cooperative as the marketing organisation is represented by Dagmar Honsbein, with Peter Kazmaier as alternate.

Mutorwa said the job of the board was simple but very serious and important.

"You have to use your expertise and wisdom to promote the Swakara industry within the confines of the relevant laws and policies of the country and the Constitution of Namibia as well as the ministry's strategic plan 2012/13-2016/17," he said.

Mutorwa said a further responsibility given to board members is to report back and consult with their constituencies so that the board's decisions are known and supported throughout the industry.

"As the new board we will try and do our best to serve not only our producers but the whole country," Von Hase said.