Namibia Agriculture Union: Weekly Newsletter 10 August 2012

Namibia Agriculture Union (NAU)

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: FORGIVENESS IS THE OIL OF RELATIONSHIPS – Josh McDowell

In today’s newsletter –

·         Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO) reflects again

·         Karas region held winter school

·         World Bank analyses policies for economic growth and employment creation

·         FA and other news

Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO) reflects again

Following the 2010 congress decision to investigate an optimal value chain management plan and to facilitate the execution thereof with all role players in the meat industry, the Terms of Reference were advertised. Tenders were invited and due to the complexness of the subject as well as the financial implication of the study, the management decided to get the expert advice from Professor André Louw of the University of Pretoria. The following is a summary of the discussion:

i.     That the challenges for producers are bigger than the extended involvement of the producer (and profit sharing) with the rest of the value chain;

ii. That challenges do not necessarily occur during the marketing of the meat and meat products to the market where there is sufficient competition between buyers in the market, but that the challenges mainly lay in the limited amount of buyers (limited consuming power and thus price pliers) during discourse of the primary products (slaughtering oxen, sale of live sheep and  in a lesser degree the sales of weaners);

iii.That, in Namibian context, the solution does not only lay in the extended involvement / coordination of the meat value chain. Involvement in the value chain with the aim on increased profit sharing, is not such a simple question;

iv. That the vision of the total meat industry must be brought into consideration;

v. That the biggest challenge lies in the trust between the industry role players and the trade environment which might bring about / block this trust;

vi. That it should be reflected about what the real optimalisation of the value chain for the producer means, taking into consideration the practical expectations within the existing dynamics of the industry.

Thus the LPO management decided as follows:

1.    That the study about the involvement of the producer in the value chain should be done;

2.    That the current Terms of Reference should be re-formulated to reflect the above points;

3.    That this study should be a result of the total vision for the meat industry and be facilitated by the Meat Board;

4.    That without the involvement of the authority as well as other necessary role players this study cannot be done;

5.    That the study should be planned in phases, taking finances into consideration.

The crisis in the meat industry got worse following the Meatco saga and urgent discussions should be held with the authority to reflect on the Ministry of Agriculture’s vision for the total meat industry.

Karas region held winter school

The Verre Suide FA this year held its annual Karas region winter school at Warmbad. Besides commercial farmers and representatives of the other 3 FA’s in the region, the winter school was attended by emerging- and resettlement farmers from as far as Grunau and Noordower. The theme of the winter school was “Optimal animal and meat production in the South of Namibia”.

The Executive Manager of the NAU, Mr Sakkie Coetzee was the opening speaker and expressed inter alia his concern for the large scale changing over to cattle farming in this region. The good rain in the past few seasons as well as the frustrations of small stock farmers with the Small Stock Marketing Scheme most probably contributed thereto. He pointed out that drought is an integral part of Namibian agriculture, that rangeland must be re-evaluated and that the stocking should be adapted thereto.

Governor Swartbooi spoke about the economic opportunities in the South. Currently there are big plans with the building of the Neckartal Dam, developments at Keetmanshoop are planned with the building of a big shopping centre whilst the Ministry of Agriculture most probably is doing a study for a goat abattoir at Tses. He encouraged farmers to make proposals for other agricultural development projects in the South. Governor Swartbooi also expressed his satisfaction with the large amount of resettlement farmers attending the winter school and encouraged them to farm independently and not to continously expect assistance from government.

Deidre January, large stock expert from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water & Forestry gave an interesting talk about all aspects of cattle farming, whilst Danie de Lange of Feedmaster concentrated on lick supplements for small stock. He also gave a lecture about efficient herd management and cross breeding on behalf of Wessel Visser, who unfortunately could not attend the winter school.

World Bank analyses policies for economic growth and employment creation

On Monday, August 6, 2012 experts from the World Bank gave feedback about a study which was done for the National Planning Commission about certain policies which influence economic growth and employment creation. The sectors which were handled were tourism, transport and agriculture. These sectors together with manufacturing are also identified in the NDP IV as the sectors on which must be concentrated in the next 5 years in order to realise the aims of economic growth and employment creation.

Within the agricultural sector opportunities were mainly identified in the livestock sector in the Northern Communal Areas, the bush encroachment problem, the value chain and the improvement of the animal health status in Namibia. As in the case with the other sectors, continuous emphasis was placed on communication between government and other role players, transparency with regard to the creation of policies and strategies and cooperation between the government and private sector within good structured public private partnerships. Following comments from the public, in the agricultural sector especially is a lack of transparency and public private partnerships.

Charcoal Producers Association will hold Conference

The Charcoal Producers Association will hold their member meeting and Conference on August 16 at 08:30 at the ReitKlub, Otjiwarongo. Speakers are Dr Trede from DECOSA who will talk about sustainable charcoal production, Mr Willem Groenewald, the chairperson of the Namibia Forestry Council and Mr Tobias Konzmann who will talk about “Energy for the future”. For further details contact Mrs Annatjie du Preez, Tel 061 237838, annatjie@agrinamibia.comm.na.

NATIS offices closed

NATIS announced that their offices will be closed on Friday, August 17, 2012 country wide as they are installing a new system.

FA and other news

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.

Omuramba FA is holding a meeting on August 14 at 14:00 at Kroonster. Guest speakers are Mr Kobus du Plessis of Meatco and Mr Chris Opperman. For further details contact Mrs Christa Engelbrecht, Tel 062 571540, jeng@mweb.com.na.

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).

Aranos FA is holding a member meeting on August 15. Further information will be given in due course or can be obtained from Joleen Mans, Tel 063 250187, kierie@iway.na.

Maltahöhe FA is holding a member meeting on August 15 at 09:00 at Farm Nomtsas of Mr & Mrs Albert Voigts-von Schütz. Guest speakers are Mr Merwe Fourie who will talk about the use of „Tag Readers“ and Dr Gaugler who will demonstrate a gestation „scanner“ on cows. For further details contact Mr Christian Otto, Tel 063 293512, ottojagd@iway.na.

Stampriet FA is holding a management and member meeting on August 15 at 13:00 and 15:00 respectively in the Artesia hall, Stampriet. Feedback will be given about the Prosopis research. Further details from Christelle van Wyk, Tel 063 250043, 081 1244955, cvanwyk@iway.na.

Sonop FA is holding a meeting on August 16 at 14:00 at Farm Frauenhofen, Gobab is. Further details from Ronnie Small, Tel 062 568905, sonopboerevereniging@gmail.com.

Otavi FA is holding a member meeting on August 21 at 09:00 at the Otavi FA hall. Guest speaker is Mr Hellmut Förtsch of the Agricultural Employers Association. Please register with and address any enquires to Christine Stoman, Tel 067 304971, 081 2446034, stoman@mweb.com.na.

Karasberge FA is holding a meeting on August 23 on 14:00 at the FA hall. Further details from Christine, Tel 081 7759424, elias@iway.na.

The Windhoek Agricultural Extension office will hold a lecture about everything of FANMeat and the NAMLITS system. This lecture will be held on August 23 at 17:45 at the Windhoek Extension office, c/o Luderitz& Fidel Castro Str, Windhoek. The lecture will be offered by persons from the Meat Board and NAMLITS system. For further details and to register, please contact Nadi at Tel 061 2044112 or Norbert at 081 1700113, neumannn@mawf.gov.na.

Osire/Waterberg FA is holding its „Inter Farmers Association Sports Day – 2012 FarmerOlympics“ on September 1 at 07:00 at the Osire Waterberg farmers hall at Farm Osire Noord. Individual sports which are offered are airgun shooting, bokdrolverspoeg and soccer wall. Entertainment for the children and general entertainment such as a mini show, tasty food and dance is offered. Each team has to consist of 8 members of which at least 2 must be women. Entrance fee per team is N$100 and social teams are welcome to take part. Entrance fee is N$80 for adults, N$40 for children up to 13 years and children under the age of 6 are free of charge. The entrance fee includes dinner and dance. For further details contact  Piet van Vuuren, Tel 081 2562666, pietvanvuuren@mtcmobile.com.na or Dagmar Wilckens, Tel 067 306201, 081 2807829, wilckens@iway.na.

The annual Stampriet Show will be held from September 5 – 7, 2012. There will be Dorpers, Damaras, van Rooy’s, Swartkop Persies, Goats and Kalahari Reds. The following auctions will also be held: weaner, cattle, bulls, Dorper Topram and Inter-breed ram. To register and for more details contact Izak Meyer at 063-260230 / 081 212 1177 / ijmeyer@iway.na. For bookings of stands please contact Dina Kotze at 063-260169 / 081 1275524 / tobie@mweb.com.na.

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.

A Dexter course will be held by Mr Willie Grobler on October 6 at 08:00 at the Agra/Bank Windhoek Ring, Windhoek Showgrounds. For further details contact Carina Jansen van Vuuren, Tel 067 312918, orpheus@mweb.com.na.