NAU Weekly News 28 October 2011

WEEKLY NEWS – 28 October 2011

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: THE GRANT ESSENTIALS OF HAPPINESS ARE: SOMETHING TO DO, SOMETHING TO LOVE AND SOMETHING TO HOPE FOR - Allan K. Chalmers

In today’s newsletter –

·         Vision for meat industry presented to Ministry

·         SACAU visits NAU

·         FA and other news

Vision for meat industry presented to Ministry

The NAU / LPO are for some time already busy drafting a Vision and Strategy for the meat industry in Namibia. MrRoelie Venter acts as consultant for the NAU / LPO.

A submission based on the Draft Report which served on the LPO Congress, was submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry on Friday, October 28, 2011. Feedback is still awaited from Farmers Association in order to finale this report by end of November for submission to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry.

SACAU visits NAU

On request of the president of the NAU, MrRyno van der Merwe, the Executive Manager of SACAU (Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions) this week visited the NAU. The aim of the visit was to bring about closer cooperation between SACAU and the NAU and also to look at areas where SACAU can assist the NAU.

SACAU represents 16 agricultural unions from 12 Southern African states and serves as overarching mouthpiece for producers. Areas which were identified for closer cooperation inter alia include assistance with studies of national interest, preparing agricultural unions as partners in Public Private Partnerships as well as the collection and distribution of relevant agricultural information for producers.

Nursery schools on farms

Amos Namibia would like to assist with vesting nursery schools (pre-primary school children) on farms in 2012 as they are of the opinion that this is the best and only way to help children on farms to reach their potential – thus make them ready for school! Their working ways are as follows: Farmworkers women are trained free of charge in Windhoek by AKM (Aksie Kinder Mobilisasie). Lessons are given in Afrikaans and English. AKM also assist with erecting a small school.

If there are children on farms and in the vicinity who could benefit from such pre-school training and if there are women who could go for a training course from November 28 – December 2, 2011, please contact Judie Wiese at Tel 062 570316, 081 1271018.

FA and other news

Uhlenhorst FA is holding a meeting on November 26 at 15:00 at the FA hall. Guest speaker is MrAppie van Niekerk who will talk about electric fencing on farms. A new management will be elected. For further details contact Mr Willie, Krügel, Tel 063 265311, 081 2492509, disal@iway.na.

Summerdown FA is holding a meeting on November 16 at 15:00 at the FA hall. Guest speakers are Messrs Tyrone Gilbert of Basil Reed and Insp Johan Vermeulen who will talk about Police reservists. Everybody is welcome. For further information contact MardaleenDerks, Tel 081 2779735, derks@iway.na.

Maltahöhe FA is holding a meeting and year end on November 16 at 09:00 at the Namseb Game Lodge. During the meeting Mr Johan Grobbelaar will talk about the (bow) hunting shop and Mrs du Plessis of Standard Bank about Testaments. After the meeting the Annual General Meeting will be held during which a new management will be elected. For further details contact Christian Otto, Tel 063 293512, ottojagd@iway.na

Kalkfeld FA is holding a meeting on November 2 at 08:30 at Farm Ovigere of Dirk and StienieMudge. Further details from Mrs Sylvia Friedensdorf, Tel 067 290144, kfriedensdorf@iway.na.

The Ombotozu Conservancy is holding a game day on November 12 at 09:00 at Farm Ovita of Mr Claus Nebe. Speakers are Dr Axel Rothauge, DrCornelis van der Waal, Norton Izaks and Louis Potgieter. At 15:00 a field visit will take place. For further details contact MrG Muller, Tel 062 518372, Johan Kotze, 062 518358 or Willem Tromp, 062 518343.

The 2012 Meatco Inter Farmers Association braai competition will be held on March 31, 2012 at the Keetmanshoop Show Grounds. The theme is “//karas” (which means Kokerboom). Exhibitors can book their exhibition space now already. Entries for the braai teams close on February 15, 2011. Further details for the booking of stands can be obtained from ANTOINETTE OOSTHUYSEN, Tel 063 683433, antoinetteoosthuysen@iway.na. To enter braai teams – FA and social, contact BRENDA KOTZE, Tel 063 281208, Kalahari@iway.na and any other information can be obtained from WILLEM STEENKAMP, Tel 063 280655, toulon@iway.na.