Farmers must remain resilient, advises ambitious Grootfontein farmer

Matti Intamba, a young and ambitious commercial farmer in the Grootfontein district, acquired his farm through Agribank in 2016 and started farming full-time.

According to Agribank, he started farming with small and large livestock, and two years later, he ventured into charcoal and firewood production.

"However, before I started any farming project, I conducted intensive research and learned a lot from my neighbours who are into the projects I wanted to undertake,” says Intamba.

Alluding to the benefits of charcoal and firewood production, Intamba says it creates employment opportunities, it clears the land since a majority of the Namibian farms are bush encroached, and it is another revenue stream for farmers.

After having started and successfully maintained his livestock, charcoal, and firewood production businesses, Intamba is looking to expand his horizons by venturing into crops and horticulture, as well as aquaculture production this year, says Agribank.

Like any other business, farming is not without challenges.

“Lack of start-up capital for projects, and proper/intensive training for new farmers are the challenges," says Intamba.

He adds that in farming, the best experience is when a project you have invested so much in eventually works out.

“Added to that is also having the right workers, and reaping the rewards of your successful projects, be it livestock, charcoal, or firewood production.”

Intamba advises other young farmers to be resilient when it comes to farming and urges them to conduct research by reading Namibian farming e-books or consulting relevant experts within the communities before undertaking any farming project.