Namibia Agriculture Union: Weekly Newsletter

http://www.agrinamibia.com.na/

WEEKLY NEWS – 15 June 2012

THE HIGH COST OF LIVING IS OFTEN CONFUSED WITH THE COST OF HIGH LIVING – C van Niekerk

Sakkie Coetzee: Manager NAU

In today’s newsletter –

·          A further move in the livestock and meat industry vision

·          Joint Crime Prevention Forum (JCPF) met with Police

·          Agricultural Employers Association (AEA) Congress

·          FA and other news

A further move in the livestock and meat industry vision

Role players in the value chain of livestock and the meat industry this week again met under the chairmanship of the Meat Board to conclude the joint vision of this industry. In 2011 the producers already presented a document to the Meat Board with the title “ Namibia Livestock Sector Strategy” which served as the producer’s input for this joint vision.

The joint vision was discussed under the following headings:

·           Production improvement

·           Consolidation of the industry

·           Marketing and trade

·           Value addition and

·           Animal health

Especially the heading “animal health” started a lively debate as the total livestock and meat industry is dependant on the animal health status of Namibia. Further aspects which were discussed, are the increase in production where the bush encroachment problem in the country is a big threat for the industry. Also important is the local, regional and national marketing of Namibian meat products as Namibia is primarily an export country of these products.

The aim of this joint vision is to get common accord amongst all role players for the future of this industry. As soon as Government accepts this vision as a policy, it will be proceeded with the drafting of a comprehensive strategy and implementation plan to execute the aims of the joint vision for the livestock and meat industry.

Joint Crime Prevention Forum (JCPF) met with Police

The management of the JCPF under chairmanship of Mr Frikkie Engels this week visited the Police Head Office in Windhoek to discuss the activities of this organisation and its affiliations throughout Namibia. Lt Genl Hifinkda, the second in charge of the Namibian Police was represented by Commissioner Nakanyaki and Insp Sakkie Burger.

Police Comm Nakanyaki gave his full support for the activities of the various Crime Prevention Forums in the country on behalf of the police. Good cooperation between the police on local-, regional- and national level was again emphasized as a requirement to fight crime, including stock theft. Comm Nakanyaki again undertook to encourage the various regional station commanders of the local Police Station  through the structures of the Police to cooperate with the various Crime Prevention Forums.

The burning issue of animals in road reserves which recently led to inter alia the death of Mr Karl Heinz Friedrich in the North, was also again brought under the attention of the Police. The Police undertook to discuss this question on high level and give feedback to the JCPF.

The administrative procedures of the appointment of reservists were also discussed and an appeal was made towards the Police to make provision in the personnel administration to speed up this process. 

Agricultural Employers Association (AEA) Congress

The AEA Congress will be held on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at 08:00 at the Arebbush Travel Lodge in Windhoek. The theme is “Ethics for progress” and guest speakers are Dr Libertine Amathila, Quinton Steel-Botes and Mr Helmut Stehn. For any further enquiries, please contact Mr Giel Schoombee at Tel 061 237838, lwv-aea@agrinamibia.com.na.

NMC will hold AGM

The Namibia Medical Care (NMC) Medical Fund will hold its Annual General Meeting on June 28, 2012 at 12:00 at the Arebbush Travel Lodge, Windhoek. Further details from the NMC office, Tel 061 233575.

NAMMED will hold AGM

NAMMED Medical Fund will hold its Annual General Meeting on June 20, 2012 from 18;00 – 20:00 at the Safari Court building. For further details contact the NAMMED office at Tel 061 374600, info@nammed.org.na.

Important dates to remember

19 June – AEA Congress

29 June – closure nominations for NAU president

30 June – closure AEA wage survey

16 July – closure AgriSter nominations

29 August – closure nominations for Agricultural Woman of the Year

29 August – closure for certifictes

30 August – closure for most active RAU and FA

SWAKARA SNOK courses

The next SWAKARA SNOK course will be held from June 12 – 14, 2012 at the Gellap East Research Farm, Keetmanshoop: 12 June: lamb description, photo judging and breeding and ram selection, electrical shearing demonstration, Herd Master norms / policy and for the workers: stunner, finnishing off lambs, slaughtering and splinting of pelts and an electric shearing demonstration. On June 13: rangeland management, strategic feeding, animal health and a practical rangeland session in the field. On June 14: estates and testaments, pelts analytical register and theory of pelts sorting, pelts sorting. The courses are from 08:00 – 16:00 and are only for current pelts producers. Accommodation will be made available at Gellap Ost. For further details contact John Hartung, Tel 063 223268, Anton Losper, Tel 081 2010679 or Stef Coetzee, Tel 063 224851.

Small stock courses

The following small stock courses are offered:

Boer goats: 30 July – information day at NLA, Mariental. 31 July – 1 August – Jnr and Snr course at Mariental.

Van Rooy sheep: 1 & 2 June at Stampriet

Persie sheep: 8 June at the small stock pens, Windhoek show grounds

Damara sheep: 20 and 21 June at Namboer, Windhoek

For further information and registration contact Carina Vermeulen at Tel 061 252994 (only mornings) or send a mail to btgn@mweb.com.na.

FA and other news

The Afrikaner Breeders are holding a grading course on June 19 & 20. On June 19 the course will be held at Klein Onganja and on June 20 at Neudamm. Costs will be N$200 per person. Please register before June 12 with Florence Hamman, Tel 060800 4708, flhamman@mweb.com.na.

Witvlei FA is holding a meeting on June 20 at 14:00 at the farmer house at Witvlei. Guest speaker is MrKamaauuNandova of AgriBank. For further details contact Mrs Monica Bouwer, Tel 062 570317, gmbouwer@iway.na.

The Agricultural Trade Forum (ATF) is hosting a public dialogue on June 20 at 07:30 for 08:00 at the NamPower Convention Centre, Windhoek. The theme is “Regional Integration – is Namibia on top of it?” Further details from Mr Jürgen Hoffmann, Tel 061 379500, jurgen@nammic.com.na

The Annual General Meeting of Meatco will be held on June 22 at 09:00 at the Wanderers Sports Club, Pionierspark, Windhoek. Further information from ClorethaGariseb, Tel 061 3216400.

Maltahöhe FA is holding a meeting on June 27 at 09:00 at Farm Urusis of Mr&Mrs Ernst Erni. Guest speakers are Mrs Yvonne Buys who will talk about “Land resettlement plan for the Hardap region” and Mr Nikolai Heger of TanDelta who will talk about cellphone communication. MrBaader of MR-Repairs will give a demonstration of a power-effective coldroom. Members must please register with Mr Christian Otto, Tel 063 293512, 081 2269518, ottojagd@iway.na.

SWAKARA is celebrating its 105^th anniversary. These festivities will be held on June 28 at 18:30 at Jaguar Land Rover, Novel Motor Company, 444 Independence Ave, Windhoek. Guest of Honour is the President of Namibia, His Excellency, President Pohamba. Costs for the fashion parade and cocktails are N$250 per person and costs for the fashion parade and dinner is N$500 per person. Persons who wear “vintage” SWAKARA garments stand a chance to win prizes. For further details contact Jenny, Tel 061 237750.

Ariamsvlei FA is holding its annual winter festival on June 29 & 30 at Ariamsvlei. The program already starts on Friday, June 28 at 13:00 with a Potjiekos and shooting competition. Artists which will perform at the winter festival are inter alia Fredi Nest, Rooies, NanineHendrikz and DillionDerm. For further details contact WollieOberholzer, Tel 063 280313 or Hansie Maritz, 063 280081.

The Namibia Hunting Gun Shooting Association in cooperation with the Grunau FA is hosting a hunting gun shooting competition on June 30 as from 07:00 at the FA hall, Grunau. Entrance fee is N$200 per person which includes coffee, lunch and a hat. The costs for the evening’s prize giving, dance and spitbraai is N$50 per person and children under the age of 12 years are free of charge. Further information and entry forms can be obtained from Johan Wessels, Tel 081 1284703, djwessels123@gmail.com. Information about accommodation can be obtained from Louis Potgieter, Tel 063 266020 or Dolf de Wet, Tel 063 262061. For more information about this sport, visit the website at www.sahuntingrifle.co.za.

The Santa Gertrudis Breeders Association of Namibia is offering a two-day judging course on 4 & 5 July on the farms of Mr Andre Boehmcker and MrImmoWilckens. The course will be offered by Mr Martin Seyfferd. Registration is N$800 per person. Only limited amount participants can take part. For any further enquiries contact MaxieBoehmcker, Tel 081 2688939, moringa@iway.na. Santa Gertrudis are ideal for crossbreeding. Light calves at birth and fast growth.

Aroab FA is hosting a horse endurance ride on July 5 and a farmer sports day on July 6. Further details from Ernst Blaauw, Tel 063 280639.

Karibib FA is holding a meeting on July 14 at 16:00 at Farm Abbabis. For further details contact Mrs D Gladis, Tel 061 248480, helmuth@hemconamibia.com.

The annual Stampriet Show will be held from September 5 – 7 at Stampriet and there will be again Dorpers, Goats, Kalahari Reds, Damaras, van Rooy’s and black head Persies on show. There will also be a weaner, cattle, bull, Dorper Top ram and interrace ram auction. Further details will be given nearer to the time or can be obtained from Mr Izak Meyer, Tel 0-63 260230, 081 2121177, ijmeyer@iway.na. To book a stand, please contact Dina Kotze at Tel 9\063 260169, 081 3907044, tobie@mweb.com.na.