WEEKLY NEWS – 20 July 2012
THOUGHT
FOR THE WEEK: EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON WHICH YOU CAN USE TO CHANGE
THE WORLD – Nelson Mandela
In today’s
newsletter –
·
NDP IV officially launched
·
NAU and Statistics Agency take hands
·
Agricultural Unions pay a courtesy call
to the new PS of Agriculture
·
FA and other news
NDP IV
officially launched
President
Pohamba officially launched the fourth National Development Plan for Namibia
for the period 2012 – 2013 until 2016 – 2017 in Windhoek on Thursday, July 19,
2012. The president of the NAU, Mr Ryno van der Merwe attended this launch on
behalf of the NAU.
In his
speech President Pohamba emphasized the potential of the economy and to develop
the Namibian economy further into an export economy. For this aim it will be
focused on the development of skills during the implementing period of NDP IV.
In this regard he specifically emphasized the improvement of the education
system and the role of the private sector in the development of necessary
skills in order to let the economy grow.
According
to President Pohamba the biggest challenges include inter alia the improvement
of Namibia’s effectiveness in all areas, increased labour ethics of the
national work force and the development of the Namibian economic potential. In
order to counter these challenges all role players have to cooperate.
According
to the Prime Minister, Mr Nahas Angula, it is envisagd that the manufacturing
sector will have to contribute 50% towards the GDP by 2016. He also addressed
the subject of improved labour relationships in order to reach the aims of NDP
IV.
NAU
and Statistics Agency take hands
The
Executive Manager of the NAU, Mr Sakkie Coetzee together with Mrs Rina Hough
from the department Research and Development this week visited Dr John
Steytler, the Statistician General of the Statistics Agency in order to discuss
cooperation between these two organisations. The NAU has inter alia statistics
about the number of agricultural land which has been transferred in the
commercial area under the various land reform programs.
The
recently promulgated Statistics Act makes provision that the agency can enter
into agreements with private organisations such as the NAU with regard to
collecting and verifying of statistics. If these statistics however are used
for national purposes, it is advisable that they are offered through the agency
as official statistics.
Dr
Steytler expressed his concern about the lack of reliable statistics in the
agricultural sector to be used for planning purposes. To address this, he
suggested that the agency and the whole agricultural sector meet to determine
the needs with regard to agricultural statistics, to coordinate the collection
thereof and to accredit the organisation which does the collection so that the
information can be made available as reliable and according to the criteria of
the Statistics Act. Such meeting is planned in the near future.
Agricultural
Unions pay a courtesy call to the new PS of Agriculture
The
managements of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) and Namibia National
Farmers Union (NNFU) paid a courtesy call to the new Permanent Secretary of the
Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Mr Joseph Iita, last Friday. The
president of the NAU, Mr Ryno van der Merwe offered on behalf of the NAU his
full cooperation, especially with regard to the identification and addressing
of bottle-necks in the commercial agricultural sector. These bottle-necks inter
alia include the maintenance of the animal health status of Namibia which is
necessary for the export status of the country, the problems which are
experienced with the marketing of sheep which led to more and more producers
leaving this sector as well as the challenges to increase production.
Mr
Pinthile Davids, the president of the NNFU, informed the PS about general
circumstances of all the branches in agriculture in Namibia. He also offered
the NNFU’s cooperation in support and execution of the Ministry of Agriculture,
Water and Forestry’s aims.
Small stock course
The
following small stock course is offered:
Boer goats: 30
July – information day at NLA, Mariental. 31 July – 1 August – Jnr and Snr
course at Mariental.
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 Dairy Producers Association will hold their member meeting on July
23 at 11:00 at the Africa Safari Lodge, Mariental. Guest speaker is Dr Hinner
Köster who will talk about feeding methods for the extensive and intensive milk
producers. At 18:00 the Dairy Provider of the Year will be awarded at the
Africa Safari Lodge, Mariental during a dinner. For further details and to
register, contact Mrs Annatjie du Preez, Tel 061 237838, annatjie@agrinamibia.com.na.
Kalkfeld FA is
holding its Annual General Meeting on July 24 at 08:00 at Farm Hamburg of Fam P
Beckers. Guest speaker is Mr Derek Wright who will talk about the pension fund.
In the afternoon a farm sightseeing will be held. Please register before July
17 with Fam Beckers, Tel 067 290144.
A Simbra farmers day will be held on July 24 at 07:30 at Farm
Geluksput of Dr Arthur Bagot-Smith. Speakers are Dr Arnold Olivier, Willie
Grobler, Christo du Plessis, Dawid Botha, Ian Galloway, Hannes Kellerman, Dr
Erica de Jager and Diethelm Metzger. From 14:00 – 16:00 a sightseeing of the
cattle and practical demonstration will be held. From 14:00 there will also be
a program for the women with Mr Riaan Momberg of Efekto who will talk about
gardens and a professional person will talk about Botox and Dermafiller.
Registration is N$20 per person which will be for the benefit of Otjiwarongo
FA. For further details contact Mr Willie Grobler, Tel 081 1221227, namv@mweb.com.na.
HOGRAN (Hoodia Growers Assocation of Namibia) is holding its Annual General Meeting on July 26 at 10:00
at the hall of the Danie Joubert School, Mariental. Further details from Dr
Joern Miller, Tel 063 683314.
The Namibia Scientific Society is hosting a lecture by Mr Henry Mukendwa
under the theme „The Conceptual Hydrogeology
of the Kombat Area“. This lecture will be held on July 26 at 17:30 at the
Namibia Scientific Society, 110 Robert Mugabe Ave, Windhoek. For further
details contact Waltraut Fritzsche, Tel 061 225372, nwg@iway.na.
Otjiwarongo FA is holding a meeting on July 31 at 09:00 at the
conference hall of the NG Church, Otjiwarongo. For further details contact
Callie Steenkamp, Tel 081 3326292, tilla@iway.na.
An agronomic information day will be hosted by Cedar Marketing on
August 2 at 14:00 at the Grootfontein Show hall. Speakers are Mr Willem
Eigenhuis, regional agricultural expert of Farmsecure Agriscience SA who will
talk about new perspectives over the management of data and soil chemistry for
increased efficiency in agronomy in the Namibian context. Mr Piet Brink,
regional agricultural expert of Kynoch will talk about the importance of the
use of proper formulated products in a market environment which is threatened
by products of suspicious origin en also give information about the latest
development of micro minerals and leaf nutrition. More information can be
obtained from Mr Johan Louw, Tel 081 1248665. The information day will end at
17:00 and thereafter at 19:00 the Grootfontein Agri College will hold a lecture
under the theme „The secrets of a master detective“. This
lecture will be held by former brigadier
Piet Byleveld who was a member of the SA Police force for 38 years. Mr Byleveld
is seen as one of the best detectives of our time and also got a special reward
as one of the world’s three best detectives. The costs for this lecture are
N$150 per person which includes the dinner. For enquiries and to register
please contact Zea Coetzee, Tel 081 1487720 or Gerhard Engelbrecht, Tel 081
1270025.
Verre Suide FA is hosting its annual winter
school on August 2 at Warmbad. All farmers and interested parties are welcome.
The theme is „Optimal meat / cattle production in the south of Nambiia“. The
talks include sheep, cattle and goats and judging of the different breeds in
the vicinity will take place. Costs are N$250 per person which include all
meals. The day is concluded with a steak braai and music. Further details and
enquiries about stands can be addressed to Gunther von Schauroth, Tel 063
683493, gavonschauroth@iway.na.
Osire / Waterberg FA is holding a meeting on August 7 at 08:30 at Farm
Ondekaremba Nord 215 of Fam W Wilckens. Guest speakers are Mr Momberg of Efekto
who will talk about preparing the garden for the growing season, Mr Meyer who
will talk about scanning of cattle for gestation and Mr Fourie who will talk
about RFID ear tag scanning. For further details contact Mrs D Wilckens, Tel
067 306201, wilckens@iway.na.
Summerdown FA is holding a John Deere day
and judging of slaughtering oxen on the hoove on August 8. For further details
contact Henriette le Grange, Tel 081 1249670, hh@iway.na.
Klein Nossob FA is hosting its annual Kalahari Farmers day on August 9 &
10. All farmers in the vicinity and interested parties are invited to this day
and farmers can exhibit their animals (large stock, small stock, horses, etc).
This is not only for registered breeders but for everyody who has a passion for
his/her breed.Speakers
are Mr Riaan Mombergof Efekto, Mnr P Hugo and Mr W Visserand the motivational
speaker for the women is D Visser. On August 9 there will be a Steak braai and
dance with the Aranos Kalahari Orkes. Further details and entry
forms are available from Jerrie Kotze, Tel 081 3012215, jbkotze@mweb.com.na or Danie Visser, Tel 081
2769152, visserd@mweb.com.na
The GTO (Grootfontein, Tsumeb,
Otavi) RAU is hosting a grazing day on August 14 at 07:30 at the
Kalkfontein Lodge. The day will be hosted by Riaan Dames and at 12:40 a farm
sightseeing will be held at Farm Gaikos. Costs are N$50 for NAU members and
N$100 for non-members. Please register before July 14 with Mr Willem Enslin,
Tel 081 2305078.
Helmeringhausen FA is hosting the annual Keetmanshoop RAU winter school on
August 15 & 16 at Farm Lovedale. Speakers are Andre du Toit who will talk
about trophy monitoring and tending to hunting rifles; Jo Gaugler who will talk
about agricultural economy and sustainable production; Old Mutua; Awie
Steenkamp who will talk about hoove care of cattle and horses; Tandelta who
will talk about alternative telecommunication; Niekie Meyer who will talk about
scanning of animals; Dr Hensie Lategan who will talk about small stock
diseases; Bernd Rothkegel who will talk about agricultural marketing and
Meatco.At the women’s program are the following speakers: Ms Carien Viljoen who
will talk about conflict handling; Mrs Inez Miller who will talk about worm
farming for compost; Mrs Onell Simon who will talk about mosaic work and Ms
Maryke de Vos who will talk about „do it at your own home“. Numerous practical
demonstrations will be given during those 2 days. The first day will conclude
with a dinner and SWAKARA fashion parade. Costs are N$300 per person for both
days and meals are included. NAU members who present their membership card,
will get a 20% discount. For further details contact Timm Miller, Tel 081
2079974, miller@mtcmobile.com.na, Andre Coetzee, Tel 081
1287101, andrecoetzee@mtcmobile.com.na, Louisa Campbell, Tel 081
2819074, info@lovedale-namibia.com, or Christian Frank-Schultz,
Tel 081 3543619, duwisib@iway.na (accommodation).
The
Limousin Breeders Association is
hosting a judging course on September 6 & 7 at Farm Ombuerendende of Sigi
and Heide Baas. The course is offered by Messrs Willie Grobler and Barend
Dorfling and costs N$500 per person. Enquiries can be addressed to Ellie
Lottering, Tel 081 2924917, franseli@iway.na.
Summerdown FA is hosting a loose goods fund
raising auction on September 15. Farmers who would like to enter their goods,
must please contact Henriette le Grange at Tel 081 1249670, hh@iway.na.
No comments:
Post a Comment