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| Namibia Agriculture Union: http://www.agrinamibia.com.na/ |
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THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: IF YOU
FIGHT, YOU CAN LOOSE. IF YOU DO NOT FIGHT, YOU HAVE LOST ALREADY – Bertolt
Brecht
In today’s newsletter –
- · Population growth and food production
- · Red Meat Producers Organisation (RPO) 24th National Congress
- · SWAKARA held successful auction
- · Pig producers will hold member meeting and information day
- · FA and other news
Population growth and food production
Due to the vast population growth global food production
is getting very important. This was one of the messages at the Agricultural
Outlook Conference which was held in Pretoria on September 3, 2012. The biggest
growth will be in Africa and Asia and it is also here where the biggest demand
will be. According to economists more food will have to be produced in the next
50 years than in the past 600 years altogether. The sustained industrialisation
of Asia causes that the cultivable land in this part of the world is reduced.
In China the total agronomic land will reduce from 135 million ha to 129
million ha in 2020. The FAO thus estimates that 80% of the projected expansion
of cultivable land will take place in sub-Sahara Africa and Latin America.
Currently only 228 million ha of the 1031 million ha in sub-Sahara Africa is
used and 203 million ha of the 1066 million ha in Latin America.
The challenge thus is to produce more food sustainably.
The most important question is which is best way to increase the production of
food which is healthy and nutritious, while the amount of land whic,h uses
water and energy, is reduced. According to USDA sustainable land is an
integrated system of plant- and animal production practices which is used on long term for specific
conditions to-
a.
Satisfy the needs for human food and fibre;
b.
Promote the environment and natural resource basis on
which the agricultural economy rests;
c.
To integrate the most effective use of non-renewable
sources as well as the resources on farms and where possible, to supplement
them with natural biological cycles and control (eg biogas plant);
d.
Ensure the economic feasability of farm activities
sustainably;
e.
Promote the quality of life for producers and the
community in general.
To summarise this: “Feeding the world within the carrying
capacity of planet earth sustainable”.
Red Meat Producers Organisation (RPO) 24th National
Congress
On invitation the chairperson
of the Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO), Mr Kay-Dieter Rumpf attended the
RPO Congress in South Africa at
Midlands, Kwazulu Natal on September 11 & 12, 2012.
The prospects that a large part of Africa’s population
will move from low income to a higher income, cause that mutton and beef
consumption could increase with ± 2,5% in 2013.The beef carcass price could
move in the next year between N$28/kg – N$32/kg.
The RPO in South Africa is currently busy with a
promotion to increase the red meat consumption.
Well known Prof Tim Noakes was one of the speakers and he
spoke about “Saturated animal fat in a balanced diet”. According to him the use
of animal products such as butter, pork and red meat and especially from
animals which were round off on natural grazing, are good for the human body.
Foot-and-mouth disease still is a big dilemma in South
Africa,even though it is alleged that it is restricted to KZN only. South
Africa is attempting to have their animal health status revoked by the OIE.
This attempt however is hampered as South Africa has no animal movement permits
as well as no individual identification for animals.
The RPO highly appreciated the presence of the LPO from
Namibia at their Congress. The chairperson of the LPO, Mr Rumpf also addressed
the Congress and emphasized that the SA market an important market for Namibia
is and will be. He also said that Namibia will do everything in their power on
producer level to not cause any market disturbances in South Africa.
Dr Lardus van Zyl was re-elected as chairperson of the
RPO.
PRESS RELEASE: ACP Secretary General reacts to
European Parliament vote on Market Access Regulation 1528/2007
Brussels, 13 September
2012/ ACP
The Secretary General of the ACP Dr Mohamed IbnChambas declared today
that the European Parliament’s vote to extend the proposed deadline for
concluding Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with ACP countries is
prudent.
“The European Parliament has shone wise political judgment in extending
the period for negotiation of EPAs to 1 January 2016. Negotiating the EPAs is a
complicated process, involving a number of very complex and diverse issues
which can impact heavily on our developing economies. It requires careful and
thorough discussions, without the pressure of unreasonable deadlines,” he
stated after parliamentarians took the decision in Strasbourg this afternoon.
“We should also recall that earlier, the European Parliament had called
on the European Commission to show flexibility in the negotiation process. It
is hoped that the Commission will demonstrate such flexibility in order to
resolve the outstanding contentious issues between now and 2016.”
The Secretary General added: “The two year extension can help to
facilitate a more serene environment to make balanced decisions beneficial to
all parties.”
For further enquiries, contact Josephine Latu-Sanft, Press Officer at
Tel: +32-2-743 0617 or email: latu@acp.int
Pig
producers will hold member meeting and information day
Pig
producers are requested to diarise the following date when feedback about the
latest developments in the pork industry are given: Tuesday, September 18, 2012
at the NAU board room, Windhoek. A detailed program on which the keynote
speaker will be announced will follow soon.
Otjiwarongo FA held Spring symposium
The Otjiwarongo Farmers Association held its annual
Spring Symposium on September 4 & 5 as a course rather than a collection of
lectures about one theme. The symposium was attended by approximately 15
farmers. Guest speaker was Mr Bruce
Brown from RCSSA from South Africa and the theme was “Grazing for Profit”. The
RCSSA is an agricultural training and coaching organisation in South Africa.
Numerous practical formular’s with regard to grazing days per ha per annum for
each individual farm were obtained, which should increase the profit.
SWAKARA held
successful auction
SWAKARA again
held a successful auction in Copenhagen, Denmark with an average price of
N$654,20 which is higher than the previous record price of N$648,51. 50 019
pelts were sold and the biggest buyer was Italy followed by Greece and Germany.
The offer
consisted of 37 061 black, 8 276 white, 3 910 grey and 234 brown pelts and the
highest price paid was N$1 513,84 for a black pelts.
The Campbell
family of Lovedale Farming, Helmeringhausen was the top Namibian producer and
sold 316 pelts at an average price of N$934,89.
A
record amount of large and small stock entries were received for the 2012
Windhoek Show. It is requested that breeders should sent their cancellations
timeously to the show office. This will ease the planning. Please contact H
Kruger at wsslivestock@africaonline.com.na.
Global
Leadership Summit
A
Global Leadership Summit will be held in Windhoek from 19 – 20 October at the
Dutch Reformed Church Windhoek West. The theme is “Lead where you are” and
speakers are inter alia Mr Bill Hybels from the Willow Creek Community Church,
Ms Condoleezza Rice, former US Secretary of State, Mr Jim Collins, National
Business Thinker and Author, MS Sheryl Wudunn, Best-selling author, Mr Mario
Vega, Senior Pastor from El Salvador, Mr Geoffrey Canada, President & CEO
of the Harlem Children’s Zone, Ms Pranitha Timothy, Director of Aftercare,
International Justice Mission, India and many more. Early bird registration
(before August 30) is N$300 and the regular price as from September 1 is N$350
and scholars are N$280. For any further enquiries or registration please phone
Tel 061 226834, admin@ngwes.com
and also visit the website www.willowcreeksa.co.za.
FA and other news
Koës FA is holding a sports day on
September 15 at 08:00 at the Koës pan. Various sports (jukskei, bow shooting,
cycling, golf) will be offered and the day is concluded with a Steak braai and
dance to the music of JUBA. Further details from Hentie Dames, Tel 063 252660, intosand@iway.na.
The
founding meeting of the SWAKARA Industry
Forum will be held on September 19 at 09:00 at the Canyon Hotel,
Keetmanshoop. At 18:30 a dinner will be held and the costs are N$100. For
further details contact Jenny, Tel 061 237750 / 2900311, info@swakara.net.
Okahandja FA is
holding a member meeting on September 19 at 13:00 at Farm Huettenhain of
Sebastian and Vanessa von Koenen. All interested parties can attend the Q &
A Producer Satisfaction Study (of which the details have already been forwarded
to everybody) at 12:00 to give their opinions. For further details contact Mrs
Gudrun Heger, Tel 062 503778, 081 2805901, gurdrun@otjiruse.com.
The
Namibia Scientific Society is
holding a lecture about GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms) and will various
questions such as what are GMO’s, are they safe for human consumption, what is
their impact on the environment and how do I know if they are in my food, be
discussed. The lecture will be held by Haidee Swanby, a researcher and outreach
official of the African Centre for Biosafety (ACB) on September 19 from 18:30 –
20:00 at the Namibia Scientific Society, 110 Robert Mugabe Ave, Windhoek.
Registration is N$30 for non-members of the Scientific Society. Further
enquiries can be addressed to Waltraud Fritzsche, Tel 061 225372, nwg@iway.na.
Dordabis FA is
holding a member meeting on September 20 at 14:00 at the FA hall. Guest speaker
is Mr Heinrich Lesch from Fodder Solutions. Further details from Mrs Christine
Romeis, Tel 061 231230, cwromeis@iway.na.
OnderNossob FA is
holding a spring dance with André Havenga on September 21 at the FA hall at
Akanous. The theme is “carnival” and the costs are N$100 for adults and N$50
for children under the age of 13 years and these costs include the dinner. For
further details contact Elana van Wyk, Tel 063 275239, 081 2200791, dvanwyk@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.
Westelike Khomas FA is holding a meeting on October 17 at 15:00 at the
Harmonie hall. For further details contact Amanda Greef, Tel 064 551565, luanda@iway.na
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