Millions for former farmworkers’ resettlement
The agriculture, water and land reform ministry has, for the first time, set aside millions of dollars to buy land for evicted farmworkers and other communities living in road corridors because of a lack of land.
The ministry announced this while answering questions raised in parliament recently by Landless People’s Movement (LPM) lawmaker Utaara Mootu and Rally for Democracy and Progress’ (RDP) Kennedy Shekupakela.
The money - a total of N$50 million - may also bring relief to landless families in the corridors, although according to minister Calle Schlettwein, the funding is too little. "Strict due diligence will be instituted when land is allocated to this category to ensure these noble ideas are not circumvented or misused," he said. The aid will also not be offered to farmworkers who voluntarily move to road corridors, nor to those who are forced to do so by their employers, but only to those who really end up in precarious circumstances without any type of ‘orchestration’, the minister said.
Resettlement policy
The ministry applied the national resettlement policy of 2023, which distinguishes support packages between high economic value farms, medium-value farms and low-value farms. Low-value farm beneficiaries can receive a grant for establishing and kick-starting their farming activities, while medium- and high-value beneficiaries enjoy access to limited credit, and all qualify for technical support, the minister said. Former farmworkers and the needy from 46 families were resettled on farm Duwib earlier this year, Schlettwein said, adding that resettlement farms for this category are managed under the gender equality, poverty eradication and social welfare ministry.
By April, this ministry was responsible for the management of farms Seringkop and Koppies where 624 people were resettled, farm Mooiplass where 56 beneficiaries now live and farm Bellalaika where 520 people were relocated to. The ministry also manages farms Nuchas, Werda and Toevlug - all located in the vicinity of Outjo - where 256, 456 and 472 people were resettled respectively.
In the Oshikoto Region, around 1 500 beneficiaries have been resettled on farm Ondera and farm Kumewa, while farm Uitkoms in Otjozondjupa now houses an unknown number of beneficiaries, according to Schlettwein.
Loans not repaid
Under Agribank, the government made N$30 million available for loans to fund farming after relocation, but 48% of these loans have not been repaid, Schlettwein said. Nevertheless, his ministry is negotiating with the bank to increase the available amount for loans from N$200 000 to N$500 000, he noted.
The ministry has also acquired machines to drill for water for resettled farmers, the minister added. Another development is the possibility that resettled farmers can now buy their farms from the government at purchase price, he said.
The ministry announced this while answering questions raised in parliament recently by Landless People’s Movement (LPM) lawmaker Utaara Mootu and Rally for Democracy and Progress’ (RDP) Kennedy Shekupakela.
The money - a total of N$50 million - may also bring relief to landless families in the corridors, although according to minister Calle Schlettwein, the funding is too little. "Strict due diligence will be instituted when land is allocated to this category to ensure these noble ideas are not circumvented or misused," he said. The aid will also not be offered to farmworkers who voluntarily move to road corridors, nor to those who are forced to do so by their employers, but only to those who really end up in precarious circumstances without any type of ‘orchestration’, the minister said.
Resettlement policy
The ministry applied the national resettlement policy of 2023, which distinguishes support packages between high economic value farms, medium-value farms and low-value farms. Low-value farm beneficiaries can receive a grant for establishing and kick-starting their farming activities, while medium- and high-value beneficiaries enjoy access to limited credit, and all qualify for technical support, the minister said. Former farmworkers and the needy from 46 families were resettled on farm Duwib earlier this year, Schlettwein said, adding that resettlement farms for this category are managed under the gender equality, poverty eradication and social welfare ministry.
By April, this ministry was responsible for the management of farms Seringkop and Koppies where 624 people were resettled, farm Mooiplass where 56 beneficiaries now live and farm Bellalaika where 520 people were relocated to. The ministry also manages farms Nuchas, Werda and Toevlug - all located in the vicinity of Outjo - where 256, 456 and 472 people were resettled respectively.
In the Oshikoto Region, around 1 500 beneficiaries have been resettled on farm Ondera and farm Kumewa, while farm Uitkoms in Otjozondjupa now houses an unknown number of beneficiaries, according to Schlettwein.
Loans not repaid
Under Agribank, the government made N$30 million available for loans to fund farming after relocation, but 48% of these loans have not been repaid, Schlettwein said. Nevertheless, his ministry is negotiating with the bank to increase the available amount for loans from N$200 000 to N$500 000, he noted.
The ministry has also acquired machines to drill for water for resettled farmers, the minister added. Another development is the possibility that resettled farmers can now buy their farms from the government at purchase price, he said.
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