WEEKLY NEWS – 9 March 2012
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: GIVE A MAN WHAT YOU OWE HIM BEFORE HE CAN ASK AND YOUR ADVICE AFTER HE ASKED – C J Langenhoven
In today’s newsletter –
· Dairy industry visits Deputy Minister of Finance
· Further support for the NAU initiative about economic growth
· Veterinary cordon fence still worries farmers
· VAT repayments hurt cash flow of farmers
· FA and other news
Dairy industry visits Deputy Minister of Finance
The chairman of the Dairy Producers Association, Mr KokkieAdriaanse together with Mr Jürgen Hoffmann as advisor this week visited the Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr CalleSchlettwein to get support for the struggling milk industry. In order to support them, the president of the NAU, Mr Ryno van der Merwe also went along.
The visit is part of the Dairy Producers Association’s attempts to save the industry. The industry currently suffers from high costs and imports of dairy products which are produced on a non-competitive manner. These productions are done with the assistance of subsidies overseas and in South Africa where the use of hormones have a substantial influence on production. This causes the industry in Namibia to struggle to compete with the import of these products.
Even though the Deputy Minister is sympathetic towards the industry, there a various protocols to be adhered to within the international trade and especially the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Mr Schlettwein requested that the Dairy Producers Association make more concrete proposals for the interim period in support of the industry where after long term solutions will have to be found.
Further support for the NAU initiative about economic growth
In a follow up to his visit last week to the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, the president of the NAU, Mr Ryno van der Merwe this week visited the Deputy Minister of Finance to get further support for the NAU’s initiative about Economic Growth and Employment Creation in the agricultural sector.
Mr Schlettwein emphasized that this initiative is in line with Government’s policy with regard to economic growth and employment creation. He gave his full support to this initiative and nominated the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Mr Nashandi to serve on the working committee which must investigate and implement this initiative.
Veterinary cordon fence still worries farmers
The condition of the veterinary cordon fence (red line) is still a source of concern for the Livestock Producers Organisation which met in Windhoek this week. The origin of the presence of a buffalo in the Otjituuo vicinity which lead to the closure of communal areas and neighbouring farms is still not known. It is presumed that the buffalo comes from the Waterberg Plateau park, but the possibility that it comes from north of the red line is not excluded.
In support of the Directorate of Veterinary Services to determine whether the fences are in a condition to keep buffalo out, the LPO decided that a similar inspection will be done like the one which was done in September 2011 to inspect both the red line and the western and northern borders of the Waterberg Plateau park. These inspections will be done in cooperation with a task team which was already established in Grootfontein as well as with staff of the Directorate of Veterinary Services.
The LPO also requested that an investigation must be done to support the Veterinary Services with the maintenance of especially the veterinary cordon fence as well as the fences of the Mahangu Game Reserve and the buffalo camp near Tsumkwe.
VAT repayments hurt cash flow of farmers
The delay of re-payments of VAT claims sometimes has a great influence on the cash flow of farmers. The Executive Council of the NAU this week decided during its first meeting that a committee consisting of representatives of the NAU, NAPHA (Namibia Professional Hunting Association), Meatco and all abattoirs should talk to the NCCI where after the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance should be visited to see whether certain problems with regard to payments and re-payments of VAT can be addressed.
SWAKARA SNOK courses
SWAKARA offers 4 courses during 2012. The first one will be held at the FA hall at Witbooisvlei, Mariental and will be as follows: 27 March from 08:00 – 16:00: lamb description, photo judging and breeding and ram selection, electric shearing demonstration; at the same time the following course will be offered for the workers: stunner, slaughtering and splinting of pelts and electric shearing demonstration. On the 28th and 29th various other topics will be discussed and the 29th is an open day where everybody can take part. Courses on the 27th& 28th are only for current pelt producers. Please register 14 days before the time with Dixon & Ina Esterhuizen, Tel 081 1240955.
Charcoal producers will hold information / trainings day
Charcoal producers will hold a charcoal information / trainings day on March 24 at 08:00 at the Grootfontein Rugby Club. All charcoal producers who will attend are requested to bring along their charcoal foremen. Matters which will be discussed are inter alia the prevention of veldfires caused by charcoal burning, fire insurance, etc. For further details and to register, please contact Mr Willem Enslin, Tel 081 2305078.
2012 Meatco Inter Farmers Association braai competition
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. Exhibition space can be booked with 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. Entries for the FA and social teams close on February 29, 2012 (the previous closing date was February 15 but it has been changed to February 29). Entry forms and rules as well as the program can be obtained on the NAU website under the following links:
Forms and rules:
Program:
FA and other news
Maltahöhe FA is holding a meeting on March 28 at 10:00 at Farm Breeckhorn-Ost of Mr & Mrs Klasie Dreyer. Guest speakers are Mr Mike Baartman of Investmed, Johan Wentzel and Johan Louw of Wilde Eend Nursery and Nicolai Heger of Tandelta. Please RSVP with and for further details contact Drien Dreyer, Tel 063 293111, drien@iway.na.
Efektoisofferinga session in horticulture. This session willbeheld on March 14 from 14 :00 – 18 :00 at the Agra/Bank Windhoek Ring, Windhoek Show Grounds. Costs are N$150 per personwhich includes refreshments. Speakers are Anna Cilliers of the SA Magazine „The Gardener“, Mr Bernie O’Callaghan the leader of the KhomasBonsaaiworking group, Mr André Bimray the national marketing manager of Efekto and Theuns Ebersohn, the Executive Manager for sales atEfekto. Bookings must bedonebefore March 12 withJacques Els, Tel 081 1281032, jacques@iway.na orRiaanMomberg, Tel 081 1240288, riaanm@mweb.com.na
The Scientific Societyisoffering a lecture by Dr Roy Millerwith the theme„ Multidisciplinaryevidence shows that the Sun and Water and not CO² have been and will continue to be the main drivers of the past, present and future climates“. This lecture will be held on March 22 at 17:30 for 17:45 at the Auditorium of the Geologica Institute of Namibia, Aviation Rd (opposite the Safari Hotel). Further details from Tanya Förtsch from the Scientific Society Tel 061 225372, nwg@iway.na
Otjiwarongo FA is holding its AGM on March 27 at 08:30 at the Hadassa guesthouse, Otjiwarongo. For further details contact Callie Steenkamp at 081 3326292, tilla@iway.na.
Grootfontein FA is holding an agronomic sightseeing day on March 17 at 09:30 for 10:00. This day starts with a cup of coffee on Farm Johannestal of Mr Eckart Hoffmann (where the planted sorghum will be viewed). Thereafter to Farm Venus of Mr Klaas Malan, where there will be a light lunch. Thereafter they will go to Farm Ossa of Mr WimLubbe, Farm Ludendorf of Mr KasparGünzel and Farm Highlands of Mr LousSteyn. The day will be concluded with a braai on Farm Highlands. For further details contact Mr Klaas Malan, Tel 081 1240463 or Louis Steyn, Tel 081 1273624.
Kaiserstreet FA is holding its Annual General Meeting on March 24 at 10:00 at Farm Autabib of Mr GysJoubert near Dordabis. Guest speakers are Messrs Christo du Plessis, GysJoubert, Willie Grobler and GertNiehaus. A woman’s program will be held at 14:00 during which Adele Oosthuizen will give a motivational talk about “Farm woman with a song in her heart” and also demonstrates basic make up techniques. Registration for the AGM is N$100 per person and please register before March 17 with Gerda van der Westhuizen, Tel 061 253016, gerdavdw@iway.na.
Sonop FA is holding a meeting on March 13 at 14:00 at the FA hall at Farm Frauenhofen. Speaker is Mrs SanetPrinsloo who also gives a cooking demonstration. For further details contact CheryllPienaar, Tel 062 563189, gghnam@mtcmobile.com.na.
A Mega Feedmasterfarmers day 2012 will be held on April 12 at 08:30 at the Agra/Bank Windhoek Ring, Windhoek Show Grounds. Speakers are Dr JoggieBriedenhann, Prof Eddie Webb and David Cock. Admission is free of charge but meals must be paid. For further details and RSVP (before April 9) please contact Hella Coetzee, Tel 081 2036484, nambons@iway.na.
The annual Mariental RAU motivation day will be held on March 22 at 08:00 at Lapa Lange near Mariental. The program starts at 08:00 and will be concluded with a Steak braai in the evening. Speakers are Mr Ernst Janovsky from ABSA SA, Mr Hein Wagner a blind person from SA and the president of the NAU, mrRyno van der Merwe. Admission is N$100 per person which includes meals. Further details from Mr HannesVisagie, Tel 063 275342, jwv@mweb.com.na or Marina le Roux, Tel 063 252015,marpas@iway.na.
Summerdown FA will hold Braunvieh farmers days on March at 08:30 at Farm Keizen 1061, 20km south of Summerdown. There will be a lot of surprises. For further details contact Henriette le Grange,hh@iway.naor click on the following link:
Kalkfeld FA is holding a meeting on March 14 at 09:00 at Farm Klein Okarumue-Süd of Mr and Mrs I Jacobi. Guest speakers are Mr Derek Wright of the Agricultural Employers Association and Dr L de Waal, the Omaruru state veterinarian. Further details from Mrs Sylvia Friedensdorf, Tel 067 290009, kfriedensdorf@iway.na.
Windhoek FA is holding a farmers day on March 16 at 08:00 at Farm Paulinenhof of Peter and Christine Schaepe. To register or for more information contact Gudrun Middendorff, Tel 061 222140, 081 2403635, gudrunm@iway.na.
WestelikeKhomas FA is holding a meeting on March 14 at 15:00 at the Harmonie hall. Further details from Mrs Greeff, Tel 064 551565,luanda@iway.na.
Seeis FA is holding a meeting on March 14 at 15:00 at the association house at Farm Otjihaenena. For further details contact Mrs Elke Zimmer, Tel 062 560080,ziboauto@mweb.com.na
Steinhausen FA is holding a member meeting on March 14 at 15:00 at the FA hall at Steinhausen. Guest speakers are Mr KamaauuNandova of AgriBank and Mr IzakSmit of Lucks Oil and Energy. For further details contact MaykeRumpf, Tel 062 561422, combumbi@iway.na.
The Limousin Breeders Association of Namibia is offering a two day judging course on April 23 & 24, 2012 on farm Omateva of Mr SiggiWilckens with Messrs Willie Grobler and BarendDorfling as examiners. Registration fee is N$500 per person and enquiries can be addressed to Ellie Lottering at 081 292 4917 or email franseli@iway.na. Come and get to know this breed!!!
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