Schlettwein carries out productive visit to Zambezi
Regional governors met with the minister
Among various activities during his trip to the Zambezi Region last week, agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein met with the country's 14 regional governors, paid a visit to the Mafwe Traditional Authority and met with members of the Zambezi Communal Land Board.
Agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein last week concluded a visit to the Zambezi Region during which he met with key stakeholders and visited important agricultural projects.
Among various activities, the minister met with the country’s 14 regional governors, paid a visit to the Mafwe Traditional Authority and met with members of the Zambezi Communal Land Board.
According to the ministry, during his visit last week, the minister briefed the regional governors who were attending their annual strategic planning workshop on several ministerial activities.
These included the status of the green schemes and rural water supply in respect of the Namibia Water Sector Support Programme in the Zambezi Region.
The ministry has four water supply projects in the region, namely: the Katima – Kongola water-supply scheme, phase 3; the Katima- Ngoma water-supply scheme, phase 3; the Katima-Ngoma water-supply scheme, phase 4; and the Katima – Ngoma water supply scheme reservoir.
Briefed
The ministry said that engineering consultants for each of the projects have been appointed and inception reports have been received.
“The demographic survey aimed at reviewing and updating designs before commencement of construction works has begun.”
It said that young graduate interns are currently on the ground to consult stakeholders and are undertaking the demographic survey.
Thereafter implementation of the projects will commence.
The governors were also briefed on the budget for capital projects for the 2022/2023 financial year, the implementation status of the Namibia Seed Improvement Project, the 11th European Development Fund and the programme for communal land development.
Honoured
Schlettwein also honoured an invitation from the Mafwe Traditional Authority to meet with Chief George Simasiku Mamili VII, at his palace.
The ministry said the two leaders discussed matters related to the implementation of agricultural projects such as the utilisation of the Katima/Liselo project, production of sugarcane and matters of land allocation and occupation, and rural water supply.
“We have identified some challenges, such as the Katima/Liselo project that we started to
develop, but there is vandalism on-site. We raised this matter with Chief Mamili, so that
he can assist us to control it. We discussed the matter of how the traditional authority
links up with the land board and the ministry in making land available for agricultural
purposes,” Schlettwein said.
Progress
The minister also met with the Zambezi Communal Land Board where he was briefed on progress made in relations to land allocation, as well as challenges faced.
The minister moreover met with Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) and Zambezi Meat Corporation (Zamco) leadership, who are operating the Katima Mulilo export abattoir. He was briefed on the abattoir operations and the impact of the 2021 Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak on the abattoir’s performance.
The minister was informed that the net payment to producers in 2022 was N$8.9 million from April to June, compared to N$9.2 million in 2021.
Lastly, the minister was also informed about the opportunities that will be realised after the soon-to-be constructed N$35 million Katima Mulilo meat processing plant will be realised.
Schlettwein paid a visit to the Sachinga Livestock Development Centre, and the Kopano Quarantine Farm, where more than 700 cattle are quarantined before they will be sent to the Katima Mulilo Export abattoir for slaughter.
The Kopano farm has twelve livestock camps, of which seven camps are fully stocked with cattle.
Among various activities, the minister met with the country’s 14 regional governors, paid a visit to the Mafwe Traditional Authority and met with members of the Zambezi Communal Land Board.
According to the ministry, during his visit last week, the minister briefed the regional governors who were attending their annual strategic planning workshop on several ministerial activities.
These included the status of the green schemes and rural water supply in respect of the Namibia Water Sector Support Programme in the Zambezi Region.
The ministry has four water supply projects in the region, namely: the Katima – Kongola water-supply scheme, phase 3; the Katima- Ngoma water-supply scheme, phase 3; the Katima-Ngoma water-supply scheme, phase 4; and the Katima – Ngoma water supply scheme reservoir.
Briefed
The ministry said that engineering consultants for each of the projects have been appointed and inception reports have been received.
“The demographic survey aimed at reviewing and updating designs before commencement of construction works has begun.”
It said that young graduate interns are currently on the ground to consult stakeholders and are undertaking the demographic survey.
Thereafter implementation of the projects will commence.
The governors were also briefed on the budget for capital projects for the 2022/2023 financial year, the implementation status of the Namibia Seed Improvement Project, the 11th European Development Fund and the programme for communal land development.
Honoured
Schlettwein also honoured an invitation from the Mafwe Traditional Authority to meet with Chief George Simasiku Mamili VII, at his palace.
The ministry said the two leaders discussed matters related to the implementation of agricultural projects such as the utilisation of the Katima/Liselo project, production of sugarcane and matters of land allocation and occupation, and rural water supply.
“We have identified some challenges, such as the Katima/Liselo project that we started to
develop, but there is vandalism on-site. We raised this matter with Chief Mamili, so that
he can assist us to control it. We discussed the matter of how the traditional authority
links up with the land board and the ministry in making land available for agricultural
purposes,” Schlettwein said.
Progress
The minister also met with the Zambezi Communal Land Board where he was briefed on progress made in relations to land allocation, as well as challenges faced.
The minister moreover met with Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) and Zambezi Meat Corporation (Zamco) leadership, who are operating the Katima Mulilo export abattoir. He was briefed on the abattoir operations and the impact of the 2021 Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak on the abattoir’s performance.
The minister was informed that the net payment to producers in 2022 was N$8.9 million from April to June, compared to N$9.2 million in 2021.
Lastly, the minister was also informed about the opportunities that will be realised after the soon-to-be constructed N$35 million Katima Mulilo meat processing plant will be realised.
Schlettwein paid a visit to the Sachinga Livestock Development Centre, and the Kopano Quarantine Farm, where more than 700 cattle are quarantined before they will be sent to the Katima Mulilo Export abattoir for slaughter.
The Kopano farm has twelve livestock camps, of which seven camps are fully stocked with cattle.
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