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| Namibia Agriculture Union: http://www.agrinamibia.com.na/ |
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THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: DON’T TRUST
WORDS, TRUST ACTIONS
In today’s
newsletter –
·
Land Evaluation
attracts a lively debate at the NAU Congress
·
Achievers in agricultural sector
honoured
·
New management at NAU and LPO
·
FA and other news
THE
NAU AND LPO WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE TO
HOST THE CONGRESSES:
NAU
Congress: Nictus Group (Nictus Furnishers, Corporate Guarantee, Auas Motors).
Official
opening: Mutual & Federal and Standard Bank
LPO Congress: First National
Bank and Santam. Meatco braai: Meatco.
Land Evaluation attracts a lively debate at the NAU Congress
As expected, the representatives of all the farmers’
associations lively participated in the debate about the provisional land
evaluation for land tax purposes which became known last week. After thorough reasoning the Congress
formulated the following decision:
Congress re-confirms its full support to the Ministry
of Lands and Resettlement as well as the Government of Namibia for a successful
and peaceful land reform process in Namibia.
This support is included in the payment of land tax and in various
documents and reports that have been made available to the Ministry.
Congress conveys its appreciation to the Ministry of
Lands and Resettlement for its “open door” policy in terms of the Ministry’s
strategic goals as well as the opportunity that the NAU receives to discuss
important matters with the Ministry.
2012
Provisional Land Valuation Rolls
- Land owners find it
confusing how the 2012 provisional land evaluation was compiled when
looking at the face value and comparing it with the official utility
stocking that was drawn up by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and
Forestry.
- Furthermore, it is
also confusing and difficult to understand how adjacent farms within the
same utility stocking area have land values that differ with as much as
100%. Also how farms with the same
climatological and physiographic geography that lies in an area with a
higher production value, have land values up to a 100% lower than areas
with a lower production value.
- Congress feels that
the astronomical increase in land values, some as high as 630%, are
neither affordable nor fair. Land
Tax is also not deductible as an expense item for the purpose of income
tax and should thus, as in the case of income tax, be deductible from the
Net Farming Profit. This can cause a drastic increase in the maximum rate
for income tax of 37% payable by the individual which will make farming as
a business non-profitable.
- Land owners take note
that they can object to their provisional land value on the prescribed
“Objection Form no. 1”. These
objections must reach the Ministry of Lands before 02 November 2012 in
order for a hearing to take place in the Valuation Court scheduled from
5-7 December 2012.
- Land owners also take
note that they may be represented in the Valuation Court as per Article 13
(3) of the Regulation 120, published in the Government Gazette no 3870,
dated 03 July 2007,
It is against this background that Congress requests
the Executive Council of the NAU to:
A. Enter
into urgent discussions with the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement to gain
clarity on the process that they followed to draw up the 2012 valuation
rolls.
B. To
bring the effect that the unaffordability of the land tax based on the 2012
provisional land valuation rolls and the effect of this on the value chain of
the agricultural economy as well as the creation of employment in the
commercial agricultural under the attention of the Ministry.
C. If -
i. It
can be proven above all doubt that the process preceding and the valuation
rolls do not comply to requirements as prescribed in the Regulations; and
ii. The
Ministry agrees that the land tax based on the 2012 provisional valuation rolls
are unfair and unaffordable:
The Ministry to retract the 2012 provisional valuation
rolls and correct it to comply with the principles of the Regulations and to
comply with the principles of fairness and affordability.
D. As interim alternative it is proposed that the current
land tax is adapted with 35% which directly correlates with the weighed average
increase in producer prices from 2007 – 2012.
Achievers
in agricultural sector honoured
The
highest award of the NAU, namely the AgriStar was awarded during the official
opening of the NAU Congress to Mr Mecki Schneider, well know farmer and Brahman
breeder in the Grootfontein area. During the presentation the outgoing
president of the NAU, Mr Ryno van der Merwe said that Mecki, despite his
farming interest, spends a lot of energy in various organisations in the
agricultural sector. He is very driven to get results and was also elected as
chairperson of the LPO (Livestock Producers Organisation) during the LPO
Congress.
The
NAU/Mutual & Federal Young Farmer of the Year this year is Mr HannesVisagie
and his wife Jomarie of Farm Nabome, south east of Aranos. During his judging,
Hannes did exceptionally well in all aspects of the judging and is, in spite of
the attention his farming enterprise requires, also very much involved in
organised agriculture and is also the Regional Representative for the Hardap
region.
Mrs
Sonja Pack of Witvlei was appointed Agricultural Woman of the Year. Besides
being a brilliant farm woman, she is very involved in the community of Witvlei
and especially at the hostel and school in Witvlei which is also attended by
numerous children of farm workers.
The
NAU would like to congratulate these top achievers in the commercial
agricultural sector with their achievements.
The
Community Project of the Year was awarded to the Kunene for Christ project in
which the Excelsior Farmers Association is also involved. This project
contributes greatly to the community in the Kunene region which inter alia
includes training to emerging farmers, erecting boreholes, involvement at
schools and the communities and especially Mrs Wilma Schoeman plays an
important role in the success of this community services.
Other awards which were made
were –
Most active Farmers Association
(FA) –Summerdown FA
Most active Regional
Agricultural Union (RAU) – Keetmanshoop RAU
Media
Personality of the Year – Ms Brigitte Weidlich
Congratulations
to all this organisations and persons.
New
management at NAU and LPO
Mr
Derek Wright of the Farm Okatjeru in the Windhoek district was elected
president of the NAU during the NAU congress. Mr Wright has a long career in
the business world and inter alia served as Managing Director of Alexander
Forbes Financial Services Namibia. He is an expert of pension funds and is
inter alia also on the management of the Social Security Commission. He has a
wide knowledge of especially labour matters where he served as management
member and chairperson of the AEA (Agricultural Employers Association).
He is
married to Leoni and currently farms on Farm Okatjeru where his son Roy is also
a professional hunter.
Well
know Mecki Schneider of Farm Okamutombe in the Grootfontein district has been
elected chairperson of the LPO (Livestock Producers Organisation) during the
LPO congress. Mr Schneider also received the NAU highest award, the AgriStar
award during the NAU congress. Mecki has inter alia a Master degree in
electrical engineering and was author and co-author of various journals. He is
a well known Brahman Breeder and currently is the president of the Brahman
Breeders Association.
The
NAU would like to congratulate both these leaders and trust that they will get
the full cooperation and support of the members.
Steinhausen FA 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 who will talk about BVD. For further information contact
MaykeRumpf, Tel 062 561422, combumbi@iway.na.
WestelikeKhomas FA is holding a meeting on October 17 at 15:00 in the
Harmonie hall. For further details contact Amanda Greeff, Tel 064 551565, Luanda@iway.na.
Witvlei FA is holding a general meeting on October 17 at 15:00
at the farmer house at Witvlei. Guest speakers are Mr RiaanEsterhuizen of Bank
Windhoek who will talk about Testaments and estate planning for farmers and Mr
Gerald Engelbrecht of DH Security Solutions who will talk about special
security products for farmers. For further details contact Monica Bouwer, Tel
062 570317, gmbouwer@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 Hamman, Tel 060800 4708, flhamman@mweb.com.na
The Brahman Breeders are hosting a
symposium on October 23 at 14:00 at the Agra/Bank Windhoek Ring, Windhoek Show
grounds. The theme is “Breeding for adaptability under Southern African
extensive farming practices”. Guest speakers are Prof Fricke Nester of the Free
State University and Dr Gael Schulz of the Agricultural Research Board,
Pretoria. For further details contact Keep Leper, Tel 081 1240648, kiep.agra@gmail.com.
Omuramba FA is
holding a meeting on October 23 at 15:00 at Kroonster. Guest speaker is a
person from Eisab Mining. Further details from Christa Engelbrecht, Tel 062
571540, jeng@mweb.com.na.
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