Namibian geophysicist dreams of farming full time

A Namibian geophysicist hopes to become a full-time farmer in the near future, intending to fully immerse himself in farming operations and activities when his dream becomes a reality.Part-time farmer Uuapi Utjavari hails from the Kunene Region in the northwest of Namibia and has been involved primarily in part-time livestock rearing.His farming journey began in 2008, when he bought his first ten cattle and leased land on which to keep them.According to Agribank, after seeing the herd multiply over the years, Utjavari was motivated to apply for a farmland purchase loan when he realised that he could expand his farming activities.Utjavari expressed his appreciation to the bank for having such a product in its loan portfolio, which sees farmers such as himself benefitting from loan financing.Agribank says that the loan enabled him to procure a farm in the Otjiwarongo District, where he settled in the summer of 2018.Continued learningHe is proud to have a piece of land he can call his own and on which he can expand his farming enterprise and passion.In March last year, Utjavari joined Agribank’s mentorship programme after hearing about it at one of the bank’s roadshow events.The mentorship programme aims to build the capacity of farmers to manage profitable and sustainable farming enterprises.Utjavari has implemented a rotational grazing system on the farm to manage the rangeland, along with de-bushing activities that feed into a charcoal production enterprise.According to him, the mentorship intervention contributed to his achievements.Growth-driven Utjavari currently markets his livestock locally in Otjiwarongo at auction days and Meatco.He has also managed to increase the number of his workers to four permanent and six casual staff.Moreover, he has invested in additional infrastructure from his own income sources, such as a new water reservoir stand to distribute water to the farthest camps.However, as with most farmers, he listed several challenges that affect his farm operations, such as the lingering results of drought conditions, bush encroachment, and water infrastructure.He also wishes to acquire a tractor to advance his crop production enterprise.

Namibian geophysicist dreams of farming full time

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-26

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Namibian geophysicist dreams of farming full time

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-26

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