Friday, September 28, 2012

Namibia Agriculture Union Weekly News: 28 September 2012

Namibia Agriculture Union: http://www.agrinamibia.com.na/

Disclaimer: Although everything has been done to ensure the accuracy of information, the NAU takes no responsibility for actions or losses that might occur due to the usage of this information.

 TOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: THE SECRET OF LIFE IS NOT TO DO WHAT YOU LIKE, BUT TO LIKE WHAT YOU DO

In today’s newsletter –
·         Namibia Standards Institution (NSI)
·         Bank of Namibia held 14th Annual Symposium
·         Dare to Care contributes towards veld fire victims
·         FA and other news

Namibia Standards Institution (NSI)
The Manager: Research and Development of the NAU, Mr Wallie Roux, attended two project meetings of the Namibian Standards Institution (NSI) this week.  The first is a programme of import inspection and market surveillance.  The NSI is developing a regulatory framework to administer compulsory standards and technical regulations under the Standards Act of 2005 (Act No 18 of 2005), in compliance with the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement and the TBT Annex of the SADC Trade Protocol.  The aim of this programme is to ensure consumer health and safety, and the protection of the environment on imported and locally manufactured products.  The second is a study to analyse trade flows among and between the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Member States to identify and document any impacts that may have arisen from the application of standards, technical regulations and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures on selected products.
Bank of Namibia held 14th Annual Symposium
The Executive Manager, Mr Sakkie Coetzee, and the Manager: Research and Development, Mr Wallie Roux, attended the 14th Annual Symposium of the Bank of Namibia.  The theme of this year’s Symposium was “Unlocking the Economic Potential of Communal Land”.  Speakers at the Symposium included inter alia the Minister of Lands and Resettlement, Mr Alpheus !Naruseb, the Governor of the Bank of Namibia, Mr IpumbuShiimi, Dr John Mendelsohn, Dr Javier Escobal, Prof Sam Moyo and Dr Wolfgang Werner.

Mr Shiimi as the opening speaker said that Namibia consists of 38% communal land, 44% commercial land and 18% State land.  He mentioned that in the communal areas only 40% of income is derived from subsistence farming, while 60% is derived from other sources, which includes government pensions.  Minister !Naruseb pointed out that the land reform process is based on the principles of the Land Conference that were held in 1991.  He further explained the registration of communal land rights, which are transferable and being registered with the Deeds Office.  Two types are registered, namely customary land rights and leasehold land rights to secure tenure and to be a title for access to finance.
The other speakers debated whether a title deed in communal areas could lead to increased productivity and access to credit.  They agreed that titling per se is no magic bullet to guarantee an increase in productivity and access to credit.  Examples from Southern Africa were compared to the land situation in Peru, South America, and the experiences were found to be similar.  The way forward for Namibia would require a reform process coupled with support measures to ensure an increase in productivity from the land.  This would include a reform of the financial sector, like the introduction of the SME Bank, to increase the access to credit.  These reforms would require more government interventions.
Dare to Care contributs towards veld fire victims
The Dare to Care Fund, a supporting fund of the agricultural family which is administered by the NAU, made contributions to persons and next of kin who were injured or died during veld fires. Contributions include the costs of funerals as well as assistance to the next of kin who lost bread winners in veld fires.

The Dare to Care Fund originally was established to support victims of veld fires but later expanded to also assist victims of other natural disasters such as floods. The fund is replenished from time to time by mainly sponsored golf days. The next collection action which is planned, is a golf day on May 23, 2013 at Omeya near Windhoek. People and organisations who now already  are interested to take part and get involved, can contact Erika at Tel 061 237838, evg@agrinamibia.com.na.
We say thank you
A hearty “Thank You” to all our fellow farmers, organisations (Witvlei Village Council) and everybody who helped spontaneously at the veld fire at Farm Saaleck on September 19 to extinguish the veld fire. Unfortunately lightening in our vicinity again caused damages and we hope that early rains will bring some relief – strength to everybody who is involved! Thank you very much, Harald and Gisela Giess.

Thank you
Basjan Jacobsz, Herman Biewenga and Thomas Reiss would like to thank everybody who assisted with extuingishing the veld fire north of Gobabis from Friday, September 21 at 18:00 until Sunday, September 23 at 21:00. Your support meant a lot to us.

A big thank you
A VERY BIG THANK YOU to members of the Witvlei and Steinhausen Farmers Associations, fellow farmers, neighbours, farm workers and all volunteers from the community who helped to extinguish the big veld fire on the farms Mahagi, Eindpaal, Hennopsrus, Hinterland, Hondeblaf, Vergelegen and Helder in the Gobabis district the weekend from September 21 to 24, 2012. Your unselfish sacrifices did not go unnoticed. The Human and Rossouw families (M C Human Snr, Ben Human, Hannes Human, M C Human Jnr and Theron Human and Theuns Rossouw).


FA and other news
The Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO) Congress will be held on October 9 & 10 at the Arebbush Lodge, Windhoek and the theme is „Animal health status for economic growth – Namibia situation?“ Guest speaker is Dr Gideon Brückner from South Africa. The Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) Congress will be held on October 10 & 11 at the Arebbush Lodge Windhoek and the theme is „A conducive environment for investment in agriculture“. Guest speaker is Dr John Purchase from the Agricultural Chamber in South Africa. Keynote speaker at the official opening of the Congress on October 10 is the president of the NCCI, Ms Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun. On October 10 from 08:30 – 13:00 the NAU Women’s Day will be held at the Vintage Coffee Shop, c/o Robert Mugabe and Luther Str, Windhoek. Guest speakers are Ds Dirk Louw and Mr Manfred Janike.

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.

Steinhausen VA is holding a member meeting on October 16 at 15:00 at Farm Steinhausen in the FA hall. Guest speaker is Dr Ferreira of Virbac, South Africa and he will talk about BVD. For further information contact Mayke Rumpf, Tel 062 561422, combumbi@iway.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
The Afrikaner Breeders are hosting an information day on October 18 at 14:00 at Neudamm Research Farm. Speaker is Mr Herman Duvenhage from the Afrikaner Breeders Association in South Africa. Further details from Florence Hammn, Tel 060800 4708, flhamman@mweb.com.na

Karibib FA is holding ameeting on November 17 at 17:00 at Kaltenhausen. For further details contact Mrs Gladis, Tel 061 248480,helmut@hemconamibia.com


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