Farmers urged to work hard

By Risco Lumamezi

The Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) and Likwama Regional Farmers Union recently conducted Maize and Mahangu Champion award ceremony in the Caprivi region where farmers were urged to work hard to produce more for resell and their own personal consumption.

Speaking at the award ceremony held at Zambezi Vocational Training Center on September 21, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Namibia Agronomic Board (NAB) ,Mr. Christof Brock said NBA was there to create a marketing environment that is conducive for growing and processing of crops.

He used the platform to congratulate Likwama Regional Farmers Union for its perseverance that has shown improvement in food production especially Maize and Mahangu in the region.

He encouraged farmers to work tirelessly in order to produce twice than they are currently producing.

“Sales in Caprivi ranges from 600 tones and above which is good, meaning if you double your efforts you can do more than you are doing” Christof said.

The CEO added that the good relationship between LRFU and NAB has improved the production of maize in the region and Mahangu is now following though it got the market late and this relationship has made the two to grow from strength to strength.

“We are growing bigger which is good and we will make sure our offices help you whenever you need help” he further said.

Mr. Lucas Lungameni board member of NAB encouraged farmers to produce more Mahangu since it is fast becoming a staple food in the country although it’s still facing market problems.

He said government has now promoted Mahangu to be on a standard with other seeds are and in 2010 the government developed a marketing plan.

“Everything has a beginning and we need to learn from others in order to move together, though they are difficulties in producing all crops that is why we have to learn from others and Mr. Walubita is here in the region for you, any problem with Mahangu visit his office” he said.

Mr. Lungameni further said though planting is a problem, farmers need to know how to plant and choose good soil for planting as the government is trying to bring its market closer to people through group implementation and the prices would soon change.

“We need to produce other products from Mahangu, now we are baking cookies out of it not only porridge that we are used too, we should be proud of our product” noted Mr. Lungameni.

In Horticulture production Mr. Mubusisi Mabuku from NAB urged farmers to engage themselves in growing as it is important for their health and income generation. Mr. Mabuka said NAB is busy finding some other strategies to improve horticulture farming in the country.

“You need to work together for you to easily get a market, at NAB we have what we call share market promotion whereby we do not want business people to buy the products we can produce outside, we want to make sure that you farmers feeds the country” stressed Mr. Mabuku.

He called on farmers to make use of their offices in order to improve their production as they ask and gain more knowledge on horticulture production.  Ms. Elena Kalunda the regional Chairperson for horticulture in Caprivi added saying at a moment there are twenty members in horticulture production but out of that figure only fourteen member are active and has encouraged other to join in horticulture as it is also a source of income, “If you do not understand about horticulture call me at any time I will attend to your call because we need to grow” she further.

In his vote of thanks Hon. Cletius Sipapela of Linyanti constituency thanked the CEO of NAB for organizing such an event to promote farmers to extend their work in order to produce more food and generate income for themselves and feed their families. Hon. Sipapela further urged farmers to use their farming knowledge to produce more food in the region and alleviate starvation.

“It will be not of help for us to wait government to give us all what we need, let us work ourselves where we can and ask to the government what we cannot manage” remarked the councilor.

Linyanti constituency Councillor said he was very ashamed to see the former ngambela of Chinchimani traditional authority Mr. Society Limbo who is still engaged in farming and has encouraged other to take such a good example, “Let us go to our forefather and inherit the way they lived, you can see how drought relief is today , 1 bag of maize meal cannot feed you and your family, farming is the only way we can survive, we will now ask the government not to be giving one bag of maize meal  rather giving bags of seeds” he lamented.

Five best farmers of the year 2012 received trophy and certificates; in dry-land maize, champion of the year who won a trophy and awarded a certificate is Mr. Fedelis Mubuchile who also won a hand tractor for his commitment in farming, second runner in the same category ‘maize’ was Mr. Joseph Mukupi who scooped only a certificate and the first farmer is Mr. John Musilizo who walked away with a certificate. Winners in Mahangu small category is Mr. Christopher Kasuka for ploughing five hectare of Mahangu and was awarded a trophy and in large category is Mr. Bornwell Mafenyeho who managed to plough ten hectare and was awarded a trophy  with a certificate.

The champion farmer of the year Mr. Fedelis Mubuchile told other farmers that there is nothing difficult on earth and nobody was born being a farmer but only through hard working with commitment is when a person can do it.

“God made man and put him in the farm not in a shop, meaning farming is the only way to survive and starvation has no master, we have to work hard to survive” he said.