WEEKLY
NEWS – 13 July 2012
THOUGHT
FOR THE WEEK: THE SHORTER YOUR VISIT, THE SOONER YOU WILL BE INVITED AGAIN – C
J Langenhoven
 |
| Sakkie Coetzee: Manager NAU http://www.agrinamibia.com.na/ |
In today’s
newsletter –
·
Labour Amendment Act
·
Pig producers are
looking for control of cheap imports
·
Farmers Support Program contributes substantially
·
FA and other news
Labour
Amendment Act
The
Labour Amendment Act has been promulgated on April 12, 2012 and will come into
force on August 1, 2012. The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare never
beforehand consulted with any employer organisation about this new Act and no
time was given for objections with regard to the content of the legislation.
This
situation caused the Agricultural Employers’ Association (AEA) and other
employers’ organisations to hold a public meeting on July 10 which was
initiated by the NEF (Namibia Employers Federation) where a panel of experts
listened to complaints and comments. Discussions were held about the way the
legislation was promulgated, the date on which it comes into force and the
impact this legislation will have on future employment creation. Numerous
employers from the different sectors attended the meeting as well as a team of
experts, who inter alia comprised of Adv Vicky ToivoyaToivo, the legal advisor
of the Minister of Labour and Adv Pieter de Beer who gave his opinion from a
legal point of view. The representative from the Ohlthaver& List group of
companies, Mr DickieMukuahima, spoke about the practical challenges of the
amendments.
Mr
Derek Wright represented the agricultural sector and gave his opinion on behalf
of the NEF and agricultural employers. Mr FransHolzkampf, chairperson of the
Charcoal Producers Association gave inputs on behalf of this industry.
In short, the Act stipulates
that an individual who works or renders service to a person who supplies work,
will be regarded as a permanent worker despite this individual’s service
contract or the type of work done by the individual. The Act also determines
that any employee is permanently employed unless the employer can give a good
reason why he has employed the employee on a temporary basis. For the
agricultural employers the biggest source of concern is that this legislation
will contribute to further unemployment in rural areas. Farmers will think
twice before employing new employees and will rather use their existing work
force to do tasks which were previously done by temporary employees.
Following the meeting a pilot
committee consisting of 8 members was appointed by the employers. Mr Derek
Wright was elected to represent the agricultural sector on the pilot committee.
The aim of the committee is to consult with the Minister of Labour about the
legislation and to request him to postpone the implementation date. The
possibility to request the re-writing of certain parts in the legislation is
also not excluded. Feedback from the pilot committee is now awaited.
Pig producers are looking for control of cheap imports
Currently cheap pork meat is imported from the RSA and
elsewhere. This pork meat is sold at prices far less than the production costs
per kg of local producers and the local producers have no markets for their
animals or products. Thus the producers have to sell at a loss. On request of
the Pig Producers Association a meeting was held with the Meat Board with all
role players such as the pig producers, processors and abattoirs on July 12,
2012.
The Meat Board gave an overview and each role player
sketched the facts whereafter it was agreed that the pig industry is very
important in Namibia and that it has to be supported. As in the past, it might
happen that imports of other countries will be discontinued because of
sicknesses or shortages. Then the processers will be dependant on local
producers. The pig industry is currently busy to expand and large investments
were made in pig farms as well as abattoirs.
The Meat Board will take the leading role to normalise
the current situation. Information, especially with regard to the current
stocks, will be given to the Meat Board by all role players. The proposal was
that importers of meat will have to re-register with the Meat Board and then
they will be made attend on their responsibility to also buy local production.
If this does not happen, the Meat Board will be requested to impose protection
measures.
Farmers Support Program
contributes substantially
The Farmers Support Project
(FSP) which currently is jointly financed by the GIZ (N$6 million) and AgriBank
(N$4 million), contributes substantially to the emerging farmers with regard to
information and advice. The demand for this service by the Farmers Support
Project led thereto that the current 31 mentors which were appointed by the
project were extended to 40. The project is involved in both the commercial and
communal sectors.
During a management meeting
this week, the Manager of the project, Ms Elaine Smith said that the 31 mentors
already made 923 visits from which 736 emerging farmers benefited. The advice
given to emerging farmers is practical and covers all aspects of commercial
farming which inter alia includes farm planning, rangeland management,
financial management, animal health matters, etc.
The current Emerging Farmers
Program is a continuation of the initiative of the NAU and NNFU which started
in 2005 with the financial assistance of the European Union. For more
information about the program, the Project Manager, Ms Elaine Smith can be
contacted at Tel 061 2074265, esmith@agribank.com.na.
We say thank you
We as farmers who suffered
great losses in the period July 5 to 7 when large parts of our farms burned
down, would like to thank all people who helped, especially farmers of the
Omitara and Witvlei vicinities as well as any other parties who helped extinguish
the fire. We appreciate this greatly. Again a big thank you and we wish all
farm owners who suffered damages from the fire strength. Monica Bouwer, Tel 062
570317, 081 2790301.
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.
Witvlei FA is holding a big loose goods
auction on Wednesday, July 18 at 10:00 at the farmer house at Witvlei. Members
of the adjacent Farmers Associations are invited as guest sellers to sell their
auction items. The income of these sales are for their own pocket. Goods which
are so far offered to be auctioned vary between lorries to cutlery.
Refreshments and lunch will be offered for sale. Interested parties can contact
Monica at 081 2790301, gmbouwer@iway.na.
The Scientific Society of Namibia will hold
a lecture about “Digging Deeper: from modern exploration to sustainable
groundwater management in Northern Namibia”. This follows after airborne geophysical measurements indicated the existence of a deep
seated fresh water aquifer underneath the currently used groundwater bodies in
northern Namibia. The lecture is presented by Mr Martin Quinger, project
manager of DWA/BGR (BundesanstaltfürGeowissenschaften
und Rohstoffe) on July 18 at 19:00 at the Namibia Scientific Society, 110
Robert Mugabe Ave, Windhoek. For further details contact WaltraudFritzsche, Tel
061 225372, nwg@iway.na.
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 FamBeckers, 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.
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 FarmsecureAgriscience 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 GrootfonteinAgri 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 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
everybody who has a passion for his/her breed. 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.
Karasberge FA is holding a meeting on August 23 at 14:00 at the FA
hall. Further details from Christine, Tel 081 7759424, elias@iway.na.
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.
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.
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