Thursday, December 6, 2012

Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year 2013


This is the last post for 2012. I am leaving for a fishing holiday in Angola. Will be back during January. Enjoy  the festive season with your families and friends. Please drive safely and return for a new year full of hope and expectations...

Renier D. Burger

Friday 7 December 2012....Angola road......

Farewell Nobbies: Best Wishes with the New Job

Norbert Neumann , master planner and strategic thinker in a familiar position  of explaining a logical approach 
Norbert Neumann (affectionately known as "Nobbies" by his team mates) is leaving the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry. His skills as a strategic thinker, master planner (programmes&projects, management plans etc) and Rangeland/pasture science expert will be severely missed by the ministry. The Khomas region will especially miss his efforts with regard to the empowerment of resettled and affirmative action loan scheme farmers where he initiated extra ordinary activities (after hours) in terms of training and on farm evaluations to improve the knowledge and skills of these farmers.  

He joined the MAWF again during 2006 as the Chief Agriculture Extension Officer for the Khomas region after the successful completion of the SARDEP Programme where he was the driving force. Norbert will join the Meatco Livestock Procurement team as from January 2013. 

Our loss is Meatco's gain... 

Best wishes and God speed
Mr. Abraham Christiaan (Chief Extension Technician, Erongo region) with and emotional reflection on Nobbies  impact on Agri extension  as friend and colleague from his time at SARDEP and as Chief Extension Officer

Mrs. M. Kambinda (Deputy Director, NWD) handing over a small gift from the Northwestern Division team as a small token of appreciation for his tremendous contributions and friendship

"Nobbies" with his custom made DEES, NWD  jacket. Agri Alert in the background (projector).  Thank you Eileen for for such a fitting gift  

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Strategic Plan and Staff Performance Agreements for Agri Extension Norhtwestern Division

Christus Kirche  near the Agri Extension office in the Central part of Windhoek
Windhoek Agri Extension Office on the corner of Luderitz and Fidel Castro  street


Agri Extension Services in the Northwestern Division worked on their Strategic Plan and Performance agreements of staff for the 4th National Development Plan (NDP 4) for 2012/13 to 2016/17. The workshop took place at the Agriculture Extension Office in Windhoek from 3 to 4 December 2012. The Erongo-, Kunene- and Khomas regions will continue in the near future with the development of their respective Management Plans for this Strategic period and the Performance Agreements with staff members to this effect.
Staff members busy with the planning

Meatco: Producer Price 3-9 December 2012



Click on image for better view

Namibia Agriculture Union Weekly News: 30 November 2012

Namibia Agriculture  Union: http://www.agrinamibia.com.na/

Disclaimer: Although everything has been done to ensure the accuracy of information, the NAU takes no responsibility for actions or losses that might occur due to the usage of this information.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: I WAS TOO BUSY LOOKING FOR CHANCES, THUS MY OPPORTUNITIES SLIPPED ONE BY ONE – C J Langenhoven

In today’s newsletter –
·         Valuation Court officially postponed
·         NAPHA elects new president
·         Information meetings about Meatco structure
·         FA and other news

Valuation Court officially postponed
In an advertisement in the newspapers on Friday, November 30, 2012 it is indicated that the Valuation Court has officially been postponed to 2013. The Court will now take place from May 20 – 31, 2013 in the Magistrate’s Court in Windhoek in Luderitz Str. The proceedings will start each morning at 10:00. This announcement is published in Government Notice No 285 of November 22, 2012. The Notice can be accessed here:  LINK
NAPHA elects new president
The Professional Hunters Association of Namibia, NAPHA this week elected Mr Kai Uwe Denker as their new president to succeed Mr Janneman Brand whose term of office has come to an end. On behalf of the president of the NAU, Mr Derek Wright and the Executive Council we wish Mr Denker strength for his term of office at NAPHA.

The Minister of Environment and Tourism, Ms Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah officially opened the NAPHA congress. In her speech, which was deliviered on her behalf by the Director of Tourism, Mr Sem Shikongo, she mentioned the cooperation between the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and NAPHA as an example of the cooperation between the private sector and government to jointly reach an aim. She emphasized that the hunting industry contributes substantially towards the sustainable use of natural resources as contained in the Constitution of the country.

According to her 88% of the country’s game is found on commercial land which is a big responsibility for NAPHA with regard to this resource. She also pointed out that the communal conservancies play an even bigger role in the conservation of game and that it currently contributes 28% towards the income of these conservancies.

She challenged NAPHA to involve more previous disadvantaged game farmers in their organisation and that NAPHA should also get involved in the conservancies in communal areas. She made NAPHA members attend that they have to adhere to the professional code in the hunting industry in order to promote professional hunting in Namibia.

Information meetings about Meatco structure
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry is holding stakeholder information meetings to inform all stakeholders about the new Meatco structure and the Draft Bill. The meetings will be held as follows: 3 December at 08:30 at the Goba Lodge & Rest Camp, Gobabis; 5 December at 08:30 at the Anandi Guesthouse, Mariental; 6 December at 08:30 at the NamPower Convention Centre, Windhoek; 8 December at 08:30 at the Caprivi Town Hotel, Katima Mulilo; 11 December at 08:30 at the Ngandu Hotel and Casino, Rundu; 13 December at 08:30 at the Trade Fair Conference Hall, Ongwediva and on 15 December at 08:30 at the Out of Africa Town Lodge, Otjiwarongo. For further details contact Ms Sharon Goagoses, Tel 061 2087704 or 081 8057004 or Ms Aune Mutilitha, Tel 061 2087476 or 081 3779001.

Power interruptions
NamPower has announced the following power interruptions: On December 2 from 07:00 – 19:00: the whole of Grootfontein town network (MTC towers, post office, hospitals, schools, Police station, shopping centres, filling stations, hotels and all residential areas); all clients of the Uitkoms network (MTC Uitkoms tower and all farms); all clients of the Maria Bron network (St Andrews, Maria Bron Roman Catholic School and all farms); the whole of Tsumeb town network (MTC towers, post office, hospital, schools, Police station, shopping centres, filling stations, hotels and all residential areas); all clients of the Mannheim network (Tsintsabis, Ludwigshaven plots, Tamboti Lodge, Tsumeb Crusher, Otjikoto Med-Wave and all farms).
FA and other news
Osire/Waterberg FA is holding its year end function on December 1 at 17:00 at the FA hall. A shooting and jukskei competition will be held and the day is concluded with a dance. Members do not need to pay an entrance fee and non-members will have to pay N$50 to cover the meals. For further details contact Dagmar Wilckens, Tel 067 306201, wilckens@iway.na.

The Scientific Society will hold a presentation about „Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) in the home use environment”. Mr W Schenk will talk about his own experiences in electricity self-sufficiency through SPV and Mr H Schütt will talk about ptions of net feeding with SPV. This presentation will be held on December 5 at 19:30 at the Scientific Society, 110 Robert Mugabe Ave, Windhoek. For further details contact Mrs Fritzsche, Tel 061 225372, nwg@iway.na.
Steinhausen FA is holding its Annual General Meeting and year end function on December 8 at 16:00 at the FA hall at Farm Steinhausen. Further details from Mayke Rumpf, Tel 062 561422, combumbi@iway.na.
Witvlei FA is holding their General Meeting and year end function on December 8 at 17:00 in the farmer house at Wtivlei. For further details contact Monica Bouwer, Tel 062 570317, 081 2790301, gmbouwer@iway.na.
Hoërand FA is holding an Old Years dance on December 29 at 19:00 at the FA hall at Farm Stubbenkamer, Maltahöhe district. Registration is N$100 per person for adults, N$50 for children under 12 years and entrance for pre-school children is free of charge. Dinner and dance is included in the registration fee and further details can be obtained from Antoinette Burger, Tel 081 2842744, antoiburger@gmail.com or MarykaTruter, Tel 081 2624146, hardegat@iway.na.
Hochfeld FA is holding its New Year party on December 31 at 19:00 at the Hochfeld Lodge. The costs are N$100 for adults, N$50 for children from 12 – 18 years and free of charge for children under the age of 12 years. Dinner and dance are included in the registration. For further details contact Marina von Dewitz, Tel 062 549026, 081 2304100, marinavondewith@gmail.com or Deoné Schlechter, Tel 062 549108, 081 3084931, deone@iway.na.


Exchange Rate NAD (17-23 November 2012)
November
EURO
USD
POUND
PULA
Saturday
17
11.294
8.862
14.076
1.103
Sunday
18
11.290
8.859
14.075
1.103
Monday
19
11.295
8.820
14.032
1.105
Tuesday
20
11.347
8.855
14.101
1.106
Wednesday
21
11.450
8.972
14.296
1.113
Thursday
22
11.508
8.939
14.238
1.112
Friday
23
11.499
8.875
14.225
1.110

WEEKLY
Exchange rate NAD (24-30 November 2012)
November
EURO
USD
POUND
PULA
Saturday
24
11.499
8.875
14.225
1.110
Sunday
25
11.527
8.883
14.241
1.109
Monday
26
11.497
8.867
14.199
1.109
Tuesday
27
11.426
8.830
14.153
1.108
Wednesday
28
11.407
8.827
14.120
1.103
Thursday
29
11.393
8.796
14.094
1.109
Friday
30
11.406
8.770
14.075
1.102

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Stock Theft Rampant in Kalkfeld Area

Kalkfeld illegal  butchers in the news again.....!!!!!!!!!!

The biggest risk to livestock farming in the Erongo region and surrounding areas is Stock theft. Farmers find it difficult to cope with the onslaught (ed).

A total of almost 100 cattle was slaughtered on eight  farms in the Kalkfeld area during last couple of months by a highly organised syndicate of illegal butchers. The slaughter included 9 adult Simmentaler bulls and seven juvenile bulls from the well known Simmentaler Breeder, Mr. Dirk Kaiser from farm, Waltershagen. The bulls were chased into snares, their Achilles tendons cut so that they cannot move and then killed by stabbing with "assegai" spears after which, they were skinned and the meat stripped. These bulls were valued at over N$ 233 000.

According to Mr. Peter Schonecke, head of the Kalkfeld Farmers Association's, Crime Prevention Committee, the situation is totally out of control and  farmers cannot farm profitably under such conditions. The Kalkfeld Farmers Association has decided to take drastic action in terms of a reward of N$2000 per head of cattle for information that will lead to the apprehension of these illegal cattle butchers.

The total loss of cattle in the area include 22 cattle from farm Avondschaduw of Mr. Udo Wilckens worth N$135 000. 15 Pregnant heifers was slaughtered on farm Etaneno of Mr. Erwin Gebert worth about N$105 000. Mrs Sylvia Friedensdorf from farm Okaue has lost 11 weaners worth about N$40 000. According to Mr. Callie Steenkamp from farm Erundu and Patagonia they have lost 33 cattle since August last year. One of the cattle slaughtered was a top Bonsmara bull.Their total loss is about N$ 244 000.

A sharp increase in stock theft is again anticipated over the festive season (ed)

Meatco Stakeholder Information Meetings: December 2012


The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF) held "stakeholders" information meetings during November 2011, on the Restructuring of the ownership of the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco). Inputs solicited from the stakeholders contributed to the successful designing of Meatc's new structure. Now the MAWF will be conducting follow up Stakeholders Consultative Meetings on the Draft Bill and Draft By-Laws for the Meat Company of Namibia and its Sui Generis Cooperative respectively.

The purpose of these meetings is to:
  1. Update stakeholders on the new structure of Meatco
  2. Present and interpret pertinent provisions of the draft bill and Draft By-laws for the respective Meat   Company of Namibia and Sui Generis Cooperative
  3. Solicit inputs from Stakeholders on the provisions of the Draft Bill and By-laws for the respective Meat Company of Namibia and Sui Generis Cooperative
  4. Contribute to the finalization of the new Act and By Laws
The venues and dates for the meetings are as follows:

03 December 2012 (Omaheke, Gobasis)
Time: 08:30
Venue: Goba Lodge & rest Camp
05 December 2012: (Hardap, Mariental)
Time: 08:30
Arandi Guesthouse
06 December 2012 (Khomas, Windhoek)
Time: 08:30
Venue: Nampower Convention Centre
08 December 2012 (Caprivi, Catima Mululo)
Time: 08:30
Venue: Catima Town Hotel
11 December 2012 (Kavango, Rundu)
Time: 08:30
Venue: Ngandu Hotel and Casino cc
13 December 2012 (Oshana, Ongwediva)
Time: 08:30
Venue: Trade fair Conference Hall
15 December 2012 (Otjozondjupa, Otjiwarongo)
Time: 08:30
Venue: Out of Africa Town Lodge

Make bookings through  registration in advance at:
Ms. Sharon Goagoses or Ms. A. Mutilitha

Tel: 061 2087704 and 2087476
Fax: 061 2087767 or 2087779
Mobile: 0818057004 or 0813779001
Office no: 412 and 204
Government office Park 
Luther Street 
Windhoek/Namibia/Africa

Monday, November 26, 2012

Agra Project Review Workshop: 29 November 2012



AGRA Professional Service is implementing two projects funded by the Millennium Challenge Account Namibia (MCA-N) Livestock Marketing Efficiency Fund (LMEF). These are the Baseline Survey of Animal Nutrition and a Sero-Epidemiological and Parasite Survey in Livestock. Project implementation started in April 2011 in the northern communal areas. It is time now to review the status of these projects, share results and information.

You are cordially invited to a Project Review Workshop scheduled for Thursday, 29 November 2012, at the Agra/Bank Windhoek “Ring” conference facility at the Windhoek Showgrounds, starting at 8:00 for 8:30. The purpose of the workshop is to inform role players about progress, challenges and the road ahead and to obtain comments, suggestions and feedback on the status of these projects. A light lunch will be served.

 For more info contact: 

Albe Snyman
Officer: Communications
Agra
Private Bag 12011
Windhoek

Namibia Agriculture Union Weekly News: 23 November 2012

Namibia Agriculture Union: http://www.agrinamibia.com.na/

Disclaimer: Although everything has been done to ensure the accuracy of information, the NAU takes no responsibility for actions or losses that might occur due to the usage of this information.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: A LOVING HEART IS THE TRUEST WISDOM – Charles Dickens

In today’s newsletter:
·         Tribute to Tangeni Erkana
·         Launch of the Integrated Water Resources Management Plan for Namibia
·         FA and other news

Tribute to Tangeni Erkana
A previous regional representative and member of the Executive Council of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), Mr Tangeni Erkana of the Farm Ovingi in the Gobabis district and member of the Epukiro Farmers Association this week died of cancer at the age of 63 years.
Tangeni became a member of the NAU in 2003 and from 2008 to 2011 he was the representative of the Gobabis Regional Agricultural Union on the Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO)  management and Executive Council of the NAU.
Tangeni’s contributions on the Executive Council were valuable as Tangeni had the insight to look at a bigger picture. His contributions were objective, open-minded and straight. He critisized where necessary but also guided in sometimes delicate matters. As a so-called emerging farmer he had the interests of the NAU and commercial farming at heart and even his contributions at the 2012 NAU Congress gave evidence of his vision. During this Congress he queried why only a certain sector of the commercial farmers have to contribute with regard to land refrom whilst the other sections are exempted from these obligation against the background that it actually should be a national action.
On behalf of the president and the Executive Council we would like to express our deepest condolences to his wife Zandile, the two daughters and all family members. The NAU will definitely miss him in its structures.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 23 2012 at 19:00 from the Lutheran Church in Khomasdal. The Lutheran Church is situated in MU Greeff Str, directly on the western side of the Western Bypass and can be reached from Windhoek through Florence Nightingale Str past the State Hospital.
Launch of the Integrated Water Resources Management Plan for Namibia
The Manager: Research and Development, Wallie Roux, attended the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry’s launch of the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Plan on Thursday, 22 November 2012.
The overall long-term goal of the IWRM is to “achieve a sustainable water resource management regime contributing to social equity, economic efficiency and environmental sustainability”.  The IWRM Plan was approved by Cabinet on 19 June 2012 and will initially cover the next five years till 2018.
The development of the IWRM should be appreciated against the background of Namibia’s erratic rainfall patterns and the estimation that water demand would double by 2030.  Furthermore, underground resources contribute around 60% of total demand, with the agricultural sector as the largest consumer of water in the country.  These are some of the realities emphasizing the need for a sustainable utilisation of this important natural resource.
The IWRM Plan will be implemented as from the beginning of 2013 involving all stakeholders through an inclusive participatory process, including farmers’ organisations.  Regional stakeholder consultation workshops will be held in all 13 regions of the country from January to March 2013.  Details of these workshops will be made available as soon as the programme is finalised.
FA and other news
Dr Lichtenberg again offers a K.I. course at the Sandveld Research Farm on 27, 28 and 29 November. For further information please contact Gobabis Veearts Praktyk, Tel 062 563877, 062 563991, gobavet@iwyay.na.
Bethanie FA is holding a meeting and year end (bring and braai) on November 30 at 16:00 at the Bethanie Guesthouse. For further details contact Ina de Klerk, Tel 063 683521,    ina.deklerk@gmail.com.

Osire/Waterberg FA is holding its year end function on December 1 at 17:00 at the FA hall. A shooting and jukskei competition will be held and the day is concluded with a dance. Members do not need to pay an entrance fee and non-members will have to pay N$50 to cover the meals. For further details contact Dagmar Wilckens, Tel 067 306201, wilckens@iway.na.

The Scientific Society will hold a presentation about „Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) in the home use environment”. Mr W Schenk will talk about his own experiences in electricity self-sufficiency through SPV and Mr H Schütt will talk about ptions of net feeding with SPV. This presentation will be held on December 5 at 19:30 at the Scientific Society, 110 Robert Mugabe Ave, Windhoek. For further details contact Mrs Fritzsche, Tel 061 225372, nwg@iway.na.
Steinhausen FA is holding its Annual General Meeting and year end function on December 8 at 16:00 at the FA hall at Farm Steinhausen. Further details from Mayke Rumpf, Tel 062 561422, combumbi@iway.na.
Witvlei FA is holding their General Meeting and year end function on December 8 at 17:00 in the farmer house at Wtivlei. For further details contact Monica Bouwer, Tel 062 570317, 081 2790301, gmbouwer@iway.na.
Hoërand FA is holding an Old Years dance on December 29 at 19:00 at the FA hall at Farm Stubbenkamer, Maltahöhe district. Registration is N$100 per person for adults, N$50 for children under 12 years and entrance for pre-school children is free of charge. Dinner and dance is included in the registration fee and further details can be obtained from Antoinette Burger, Tel 081 2842744, antoiburger@gmail.com or MarykaTruter, Tel 081 2624146, hardegat@iway.na.
Hochfeld FA is holding its New Year party on December 31 at 19:00 at the Hochfeld Lodge. The costs are N$100 for adults, N$50 for children from 12 – 18 years and free of charge for children under the age of 12 years. Dinner and dance are included in the registration. For further details contact Marina von Dewitz, Tel 062 549026, 081 2304100, marinavondewith@gmail.com or Deoné Schlechter, Tel 062 549108, 081 3084931, deone@iway.na