Farmer shares skills, knowledge with neighbours
Paying it forward
With training provided by Agribank, Mervin Tjaveondja has not only improved his own skills but has also shared his new-found knowledge with neighbours.
Full-time communal small-stock farmer Mervin Tjaveondja from the Erongo Region assists neighbouring farmers with the agricultural expertise and practices he has acquired through training.
Tjaveondja grew up farming and has continued with this passion, producing fodder from his lucerne plantation for his 103-strong herd of goats.
He farms at Otjomue Suid in the Omatjete area.
According to Agribank, he has been a regular trainee at the bank’s training sessions hosted in that area.
Paying it forward
In 2021, Tjaveondja participated in the Agribank Women and Youth Training funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Farming Resilience project.
He started farming with just four goats, and the training reignited his interest and expanded his knowledge on small stock vaccinations, treatment of diseases, breeding practices and production planning.
He highlighted how he has applied his training not only to his own farming operations, but said he now assists his neighbours with what he has learned from the training.
Tjaveondja has observed positive changes in his income since expanding his knowledge through training, including learning how to estimate income based on animal weight, markets and keeping records of his expenses.
His minimum selling price for a goat is now N$1 000, and he markets his animals locally on permit days.
Forward thinking
However, he still faces challenges with predators such as jackals and has no employees to assist him on the farm, according to Agribank.
Despite this, Tjaveondja is content with the available grazing and water on the farm.
"In the future, I intend to expand my animal numbers and acquire a good buck to improve the quality of my goats and sell them at better prices. I also plan to start a small plantation of crops and acquire cattle to add to my stock. Moreover, I would like to participate in the agriculture ministry’s small stock scheme to expand my flock," he said.
He expressed his appreciation for the assistance from Agribank, which has helped expand his knowledge and skills, and he urged others, including young farmers, to take advantage of the opportunity to learn.
Tjaveondja grew up farming and has continued with this passion, producing fodder from his lucerne plantation for his 103-strong herd of goats.
He farms at Otjomue Suid in the Omatjete area.
According to Agribank, he has been a regular trainee at the bank’s training sessions hosted in that area.
Paying it forward
In 2021, Tjaveondja participated in the Agribank Women and Youth Training funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Farming Resilience project.
He started farming with just four goats, and the training reignited his interest and expanded his knowledge on small stock vaccinations, treatment of diseases, breeding practices and production planning.
He highlighted how he has applied his training not only to his own farming operations, but said he now assists his neighbours with what he has learned from the training.
Tjaveondja has observed positive changes in his income since expanding his knowledge through training, including learning how to estimate income based on animal weight, markets and keeping records of his expenses.
His minimum selling price for a goat is now N$1 000, and he markets his animals locally on permit days.
Forward thinking
However, he still faces challenges with predators such as jackals and has no employees to assist him on the farm, according to Agribank.
Despite this, Tjaveondja is content with the available grazing and water on the farm.
"In the future, I intend to expand my animal numbers and acquire a good buck to improve the quality of my goats and sell them at better prices. I also plan to start a small plantation of crops and acquire cattle to add to my stock. Moreover, I would like to participate in the agriculture ministry’s small stock scheme to expand my flock," he said.
He expressed his appreciation for the assistance from Agribank, which has helped expand his knowledge and skills, and he urged others, including young farmers, to take advantage of the opportunity to learn.
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