By Risco Lumamezi
SEVEN communities in the Caprivi region have benefi ted from a joint initiative of the directorate of Forestry, German Development Service (DED) and German Development Bank (KFW).
A new community based business model which started by community forests in the North- Eastern Namibia
(CFNEN project), opened its gates in the newly Katima Mulilo Open Market with income generation project managed by a marketing committee which was founded out of their midst.
One of the greatest challenges for community in North –Eastern Namibia is the creation of income for rural people, who have almost no access to the local trade interms of transport or trading skills.
Jana Arnold, Public Relations Officer for DED confirmed to Caprivi Vision that, the community forestry is funded by the Embassy of Germany, it started in 2004 whilst next year it will implement its last phase and the whole project will come to an end in 2011.
“People started an idea of the project, interms of the climate change forestry is very important” Jana Said.
The market booth will enable the communities to sell their forest products like rafters, droppers, poles, planks, thatching grass, firewood and many more.
This marketing committee acts like an enterprise and is a middleman for the connected communities who contributed N$150 each for setting up such a business entity.
In order to become more business oriented, the marketing initiative constantly receives training in business skills like bookkeeping, accounting or marketing.
Expansion of other activities other than the market booth is planned.The success of the initiative will depend on the community members as they have to contribute their skills and commitment to ensure the effi cient operation of the business unit.
The marketing committee which represented by each person from seven communities, it buys products to be sold at the market booth and immediately pays the harvesters and producers of forest related products.
As a “business body” it works demand drive and will regulate supply, demand and prizes in favour of the member communities
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