By Lylie Happiness
AMARIKA, Aug. 17 – In a significant boost to local agriculture, the Hon. Calle Schlettwein, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR), officially handed over farm infrastructure to the members of the Amarika Farmers’ Cooperative in Amarika, Omusati Region, on August 16, 2023.
Among the impressive array of infrastructural developments unveiled by Hon. Schlettwein in Amarika, Omusati Region, the site features a borehole, elevated solar panels, an elephant-proof fence, an elephant drinking trough, taps, a livestock drinking trough, and an elevated water reservoir.
The Minister highlighted that the Ministry, through the Programme for Communal Land Development (PCLD), has invested a total of N$23.8 million in the development of the farm infrastructure now being handed over.
Furthermore, the Minister announced that the PCLD has facilitated the development of infrastructure across about 490,000 hectares of communal land in designated areas of Omusati, Ohangwena, Kavango East, Kavango West, Zambezi, Omaheke, and Otjozondjupa regions, with an expenditure of NAD 181.1 million. The developments encompass:
– 74 installed boreholes
– 169 kilometres of water pipelines
– 877 kilometres of fencing
– 20 cattle handling facilities
This extensive infrastructure benefits farming households in the communal areas, offering them the means to contribute to and benefit from the agricultural sector.
Amarika Farmer’s Cooperative, covering an area of 40,000 hectares, stands out within this development. Hon. Schlettwein expressed his pleasure at the 122 registered members of the Cooperative who will benefit from a 53-kilometre water pipeline, 6 water points, and a 56-kilometre rangeland fence, all of which enhance livestock management practices and market orientation.
Mrs. Gosia Lachut, Deputy Head of Mission of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Namibia, acknowledged that the Programme for Communal Land Development addresses core developmental challenges by providing secure land tenure rights, enabling communities to manage and utilize the land as a productive resource.
The provision of such infrastructure is a unique opportunity for farmers to transition from subsistence farming to commercially-oriented practices. By utilizing these facilities, farmers have the chance to not only improve their livelihoods but also contribute to the overall economy.
Erickson Kamati, Vice Chairperson of the Amarika farmer’s cooperative, expressed gratitude on behalf of beneficiaries, highlighting the impact of these developments on their livelihoods. The project has fostered unity among farmers, leading to the establishment of two butcher shops in Okahao and Outapi. The cooperative’s efforts have resulted in about N$3.6 million being circulated through the sales of livestock to their butchery, a testament to their dreams of wealth creation, unemployment reduction, and market opportunity expansion. -Namibia Daily News
