Promoting sustainable farming in Kavango East
Kavango East governor Bonifatius Wakudumo says the region has provided training and technical assistance to help farmers improve their yields, revenue and market access for their products.
Wakudumo made these remarks on Wednesday during his state of the region address in Rundu.
According to him, agriculture remains a key sector in the region.
“We have focused on supporting our farmers and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. We believe that a thriving agricultural sector is crucial for the economic development of our region,’” he said.
The governor said through the agriculture ministry's Namibia Mechanisation and Seed Improvement Programme (NAMSIP), 29 tractors were procured with their matching implements to render all the services as stipulated under the Dry Land Crop Production Program (DCPP) programme.
"The implements received include hand-operated cultivators for weeding, hand-operated seedling transplanters, vegetable seed drillers, diesel chipper hammer mills for cattle feed, knapsack sprayers and walking tractors with matching implements,” he said.
Green scheme projects
The governor highlighted that the directorate of agriculture production, extension and engineering services operationalised three green scheme projects in the Kavango East Region, namely Shadikongoro, Uvungu-Vhungu and Ndonga Linena.
“During summer production, a total of 80 ha of maize was planted at the Uvhungu-Vhungu green scheme with an average yield of seven tonnes/ha totalling 560 tonnes harvested. Furthermore, a total of 94 ha of wheat is planted during the winter and will be harvested before the next summer crop plantation.”
He added that during summer production, a total of 72 ha of maize was planted at Shadikongoro with an average yield of seven tonnes/ha. There is no wheat production as infrastructure is being repaired to prepare for 2024/25 summer production, Wakudumo added.
The Ndonga Linena green screen planted a total of 60 ha of maize and harvested 408.96 tonnes during the summer.
In addition, 33 ha were planted with oats, while 10 ha were planted with lucerne.
Wakudumo said that to ensure timely production and sustainable and efficient crop production, continuous repairs and maintenance of equipment are of utmost importance.
Support for farmers
The governor said in regard to farmer support programmes, "we have provided 19.5 tonnes of subsidised inputs such as seed and fertiliser to 4 404 subsistence farmers; ploughing, ripping, and planting services to 1 357, for a total of 3 469 hectares; one storage facility; and weeding services to 73 farmers."
Under the horticultural production programme, 60 farmers were provided with subsidised inputs and equipment valued at N$647 034, he added.
"A total of 422 farmers were trained in horticulture production, which has resulted in uninterrupted supplies of horticulture products in the region throughout the year. In the area of small stock development and distribution in communal areas, 420 goats were distributed to 20 farmers (21 goats per farmer) in all rural constituencies of the Kavango East Region,” he said.
He added that the region’s Poultry Value Chain Programme benefitted 84 poultry producers to the value of N$380 479.
“Moreover, 71 poultry producers were trained in poultry-related farming methods. In addition, through extension services, a total of 2 036 farmers received training and information on various agricultural topics and techniques,” he added.
[email protected]
Wakudumo made these remarks on Wednesday during his state of the region address in Rundu.
According to him, agriculture remains a key sector in the region.
“We have focused on supporting our farmers and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. We believe that a thriving agricultural sector is crucial for the economic development of our region,’” he said.
The governor said through the agriculture ministry's Namibia Mechanisation and Seed Improvement Programme (NAMSIP), 29 tractors were procured with their matching implements to render all the services as stipulated under the Dry Land Crop Production Program (DCPP) programme.
"The implements received include hand-operated cultivators for weeding, hand-operated seedling transplanters, vegetable seed drillers, diesel chipper hammer mills for cattle feed, knapsack sprayers and walking tractors with matching implements,” he said.
Green scheme projects
The governor highlighted that the directorate of agriculture production, extension and engineering services operationalised three green scheme projects in the Kavango East Region, namely Shadikongoro, Uvungu-Vhungu and Ndonga Linena.
“During summer production, a total of 80 ha of maize was planted at the Uvhungu-Vhungu green scheme with an average yield of seven tonnes/ha totalling 560 tonnes harvested. Furthermore, a total of 94 ha of wheat is planted during the winter and will be harvested before the next summer crop plantation.”
He added that during summer production, a total of 72 ha of maize was planted at Shadikongoro with an average yield of seven tonnes/ha. There is no wheat production as infrastructure is being repaired to prepare for 2024/25 summer production, Wakudumo added.
The Ndonga Linena green screen planted a total of 60 ha of maize and harvested 408.96 tonnes during the summer.
In addition, 33 ha were planted with oats, while 10 ha were planted with lucerne.
Wakudumo said that to ensure timely production and sustainable and efficient crop production, continuous repairs and maintenance of equipment are of utmost importance.
Support for farmers
The governor said in regard to farmer support programmes, "we have provided 19.5 tonnes of subsidised inputs such as seed and fertiliser to 4 404 subsistence farmers; ploughing, ripping, and planting services to 1 357, for a total of 3 469 hectares; one storage facility; and weeding services to 73 farmers."
Under the horticultural production programme, 60 farmers were provided with subsidised inputs and equipment valued at N$647 034, he added.
"A total of 422 farmers were trained in horticulture production, which has resulted in uninterrupted supplies of horticulture products in the region throughout the year. In the area of small stock development and distribution in communal areas, 420 goats were distributed to 20 farmers (21 goats per farmer) in all rural constituencies of the Kavango East Region,” he said.
He added that the region’s Poultry Value Chain Programme benefitted 84 poultry producers to the value of N$380 479.
“Moreover, 71 poultry producers were trained in poultry-related farming methods. In addition, through extension services, a total of 2 036 farmers received training and information on various agricultural topics and techniques,” he added.
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article