168 tractors distributed to aid agri enterprises
The agriculture ministry has procured 350 walking tractors from India through the Namibia Agricultural Mechanisation and Seed Improvement Project (Namsip), of which 168 have been delivered to respective beneficiary regions.
According to ministry spokesperson, Jona Musheko, the ministry signed contracts for the supply and delivery of the 350 tractors to the value of N$300 million.
He said that 50 of the remaining 182 tractors have just arrived and are being assembled locally, while the rest are to be received before the end of 2023.
Food security
Namsip is a project co-funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) through a loan together with government, with the aim of benefitting small-scale farmers in communal areas across the country.
The project's goal is to improve household food security and contribute to poverty reduction, while the specific objectives are to enhance agricultural productivity, facilitate job creation and enhance household incomes.
To date, the project has procured various machinery and equipment under Agricultural Mechanisation for use by crop and livestock farmers across the country.
Learning from India
The ministry, through Namsip, last week undertook a seed industry learning tour on millet seed improvement to the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), India.
India is the world’s largest producer of pearl millet.
According to Musheko, India has different varieties and hybrids that are able to yield 4 tonnes per hectare, strong seed systems for farmers to access improved varieties, and millet in various forms, including snacks, biscuits and millet milk.
“Namibia can learn from India to improve yields through the development of new varieties, setting up effective seed systems, and creating markets for pearl millet to explore the potential of the crop to contribute to food, nutrition and income generation, especially in the farming community.”
Supporting farmeres
Furthermore, the ministry has launched a tender for the design and construction supervision of the proposed seed processing plants. The seed processing plants will be built in Zambezi, Kavango East, Kavango West, Oshikoto and Omusati regions once the designs have been completed.
The ministry, through the Namsip project, also facilitated the registration of 777 individual farmers and eight cooperatives, institutions, and entities as seed growers who are participating in the multiplication of certified seed with a view to ensuring the timely availability of sufficient quality certified seed.
In addition, the project supported the production of 1 057 tonnes and 117 tonnes of certified and foundation seed, respectively.
Planting a seed
Certified seed was provided to farmers through agriculture development centres in all crop-growing regions, while foundation seed was given to registered seed growers for multiplication of certified seed.
Musheko said through the multiplication of seed-related activities, the ministry created temporary employment for of 4519 – 1 575 men and 2 944 women.
The ministry has commenced with the upgrading of the irrigation system at the Mannheim crop research station for multiplication of certified seed, and work is in progress.
“In order to ensure ownership and sustainability, the project has facilitated the capacity building of staff members on the operation and maintenance of agricultural machinery and equipment.”
According to ministry spokesperson, Jona Musheko, the ministry signed contracts for the supply and delivery of the 350 tractors to the value of N$300 million.
He said that 50 of the remaining 182 tractors have just arrived and are being assembled locally, while the rest are to be received before the end of 2023.
Food security
Namsip is a project co-funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) through a loan together with government, with the aim of benefitting small-scale farmers in communal areas across the country.
The project's goal is to improve household food security and contribute to poverty reduction, while the specific objectives are to enhance agricultural productivity, facilitate job creation and enhance household incomes.
To date, the project has procured various machinery and equipment under Agricultural Mechanisation for use by crop and livestock farmers across the country.
Learning from India
The ministry, through Namsip, last week undertook a seed industry learning tour on millet seed improvement to the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), India.
India is the world’s largest producer of pearl millet.
According to Musheko, India has different varieties and hybrids that are able to yield 4 tonnes per hectare, strong seed systems for farmers to access improved varieties, and millet in various forms, including snacks, biscuits and millet milk.
“Namibia can learn from India to improve yields through the development of new varieties, setting up effective seed systems, and creating markets for pearl millet to explore the potential of the crop to contribute to food, nutrition and income generation, especially in the farming community.”
Supporting farmeres
Furthermore, the ministry has launched a tender for the design and construction supervision of the proposed seed processing plants. The seed processing plants will be built in Zambezi, Kavango East, Kavango West, Oshikoto and Omusati regions once the designs have been completed.
The ministry, through the Namsip project, also facilitated the registration of 777 individual farmers and eight cooperatives, institutions, and entities as seed growers who are participating in the multiplication of certified seed with a view to ensuring the timely availability of sufficient quality certified seed.
In addition, the project supported the production of 1 057 tonnes and 117 tonnes of certified and foundation seed, respectively.
Planting a seed
Certified seed was provided to farmers through agriculture development centres in all crop-growing regions, while foundation seed was given to registered seed growers for multiplication of certified seed.
Musheko said through the multiplication of seed-related activities, the ministry created temporary employment for of 4519 – 1 575 men and 2 944 women.
The ministry has commenced with the upgrading of the irrigation system at the Mannheim crop research station for multiplication of certified seed, and work is in progress.
“In order to ensure ownership and sustainability, the project has facilitated the capacity building of staff members on the operation and maintenance of agricultural machinery and equipment.”
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article