Thursday, December 6, 2012

Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year 2013


This is the last post for 2012. I am leaving for a fishing holiday in Angola. Will be back during January. Enjoy  the festive season with your families and friends. Please drive safely and return for a new year full of hope and expectations...

Renier D. Burger

Friday 7 December 2012....Angola road......

Farewell Nobbies: Best Wishes with the New Job

Norbert Neumann , master planner and strategic thinker in a familiar position  of explaining a logical approach 
Norbert Neumann (affectionately known as "Nobbies" by his team mates) is leaving the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry. His skills as a strategic thinker, master planner (programmes&projects, management plans etc) and Rangeland/pasture science expert will be severely missed by the ministry. The Khomas region will especially miss his efforts with regard to the empowerment of resettled and affirmative action loan scheme farmers where he initiated extra ordinary activities (after hours) in terms of training and on farm evaluations to improve the knowledge and skills of these farmers.  

He joined the MAWF again during 2006 as the Chief Agriculture Extension Officer for the Khomas region after the successful completion of the SARDEP Programme where he was the driving force. Norbert will join the Meatco Livestock Procurement team as from January 2013. 

Our loss is Meatco's gain... 

Best wishes and God speed
Mr. Abraham Christiaan (Chief Extension Technician, Erongo region) with and emotional reflection on Nobbies  impact on Agri extension  as friend and colleague from his time at SARDEP and as Chief Extension Officer

Mrs. M. Kambinda (Deputy Director, NWD) handing over a small gift from the Northwestern Division team as a small token of appreciation for his tremendous contributions and friendship

"Nobbies" with his custom made DEES, NWD  jacket. Agri Alert in the background (projector).  Thank you Eileen for for such a fitting gift  

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Strategic Plan and Staff Performance Agreements for Agri Extension Norhtwestern Division

Christus Kirche  near the Agri Extension office in the Central part of Windhoek
Windhoek Agri Extension Office on the corner of Luderitz and Fidel Castro  street


Agri Extension Services in the Northwestern Division worked on their Strategic Plan and Performance agreements of staff for the 4th National Development Plan (NDP 4) for 2012/13 to 2016/17. The workshop took place at the Agriculture Extension Office in Windhoek from 3 to 4 December 2012. The Erongo-, Kunene- and Khomas regions will continue in the near future with the development of their respective Management Plans for this Strategic period and the Performance Agreements with staff members to this effect.
Staff members busy with the planning

Meatco: Producer Price 3-9 December 2012



Click on image for better view

Namibia Agriculture Union Weekly News: 30 November 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.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: I WAS TOO BUSY LOOKING FOR CHANCES, THUS MY OPPORTUNITIES SLIPPED ONE BY ONE – C J Langenhoven

In today’s newsletter –
·         Valuation Court officially postponed
·         NAPHA elects new president
·         Information meetings about Meatco structure
·         FA and other news

Valuation Court officially postponed
In an advertisement in the newspapers on Friday, November 30, 2012 it is indicated that the Valuation Court has officially been postponed to 2013. The Court will now take place from May 20 – 31, 2013 in the Magistrate’s Court in Windhoek in Luderitz Str. The proceedings will start each morning at 10:00. This announcement is published in Government Notice No 285 of November 22, 2012. The Notice can be accessed here:  LINK
NAPHA elects new president
The Professional Hunters Association of Namibia, NAPHA this week elected Mr Kai Uwe Denker as their new president to succeed Mr Janneman Brand whose term of office has come to an end. On behalf of the president of the NAU, Mr Derek Wright and the Executive Council we wish Mr Denker strength for his term of office at NAPHA.

The Minister of Environment and Tourism, Ms Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah officially opened the NAPHA congress. In her speech, which was deliviered on her behalf by the Director of Tourism, Mr Sem Shikongo, she mentioned the cooperation between the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and NAPHA as an example of the cooperation between the private sector and government to jointly reach an aim. She emphasized that the hunting industry contributes substantially towards the sustainable use of natural resources as contained in the Constitution of the country.

According to her 88% of the country’s game is found on commercial land which is a big responsibility for NAPHA with regard to this resource. She also pointed out that the communal conservancies play an even bigger role in the conservation of game and that it currently contributes 28% towards the income of these conservancies.

She challenged NAPHA to involve more previous disadvantaged game farmers in their organisation and that NAPHA should also get involved in the conservancies in communal areas. She made NAPHA members attend that they have to adhere to the professional code in the hunting industry in order to promote professional hunting in Namibia.

Information meetings about Meatco structure
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry is holding stakeholder information meetings to inform all stakeholders about the new Meatco structure and the Draft Bill. The meetings will be held as follows: 3 December at 08:30 at the Goba Lodge & Rest Camp, Gobabis; 5 December at 08:30 at the Anandi Guesthouse, Mariental; 6 December at 08:30 at the NamPower Convention Centre, Windhoek; 8 December at 08:30 at the Caprivi Town Hotel, Katima Mulilo; 11 December at 08:30 at the Ngandu Hotel and Casino, Rundu; 13 December at 08:30 at the Trade Fair Conference Hall, Ongwediva and on 15 December at 08:30 at the Out of Africa Town Lodge, Otjiwarongo. For further details contact Ms Sharon Goagoses, Tel 061 2087704 or 081 8057004 or Ms Aune Mutilitha, Tel 061 2087476 or 081 3779001.

Power interruptions
NamPower has announced the following power interruptions: On December 2 from 07:00 – 19:00: the whole of Grootfontein town network (MTC towers, post office, hospitals, schools, Police station, shopping centres, filling stations, hotels and all residential areas); all clients of the Uitkoms network (MTC Uitkoms tower and all farms); all clients of the Maria Bron network (St Andrews, Maria Bron Roman Catholic School and all farms); the whole of Tsumeb town network (MTC towers, post office, hospital, schools, Police station, shopping centres, filling stations, hotels and all residential areas); all clients of the Mannheim network (Tsintsabis, Ludwigshaven plots, Tamboti Lodge, Tsumeb Crusher, Otjikoto Med-Wave and all farms).
FA and other news
Osire/Waterberg FA is holding its year end function on December 1 at 17:00 at the FA hall. A shooting and jukskei competition will be held and the day is concluded with a dance. Members do not need to pay an entrance fee and non-members will have to pay N$50 to cover the meals. For further details contact Dagmar Wilckens, Tel 067 306201, wilckens@iway.na.

The Scientific Society will hold a presentation about „Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) in the home use environment”. Mr W Schenk will talk about his own experiences in electricity self-sufficiency through SPV and Mr H Schütt will talk about ptions of net feeding with SPV. This presentation will be held on December 5 at 19:30 at the Scientific Society, 110 Robert Mugabe Ave, Windhoek. For further details contact Mrs Fritzsche, Tel 061 225372, nwg@iway.na.
Steinhausen FA is holding its Annual General Meeting and year end function on December 8 at 16:00 at the FA hall at Farm Steinhausen. Further details from Mayke Rumpf, Tel 062 561422, combumbi@iway.na.
Witvlei FA is holding their General Meeting and year end function on December 8 at 17:00 in the farmer house at Wtivlei. For further details contact Monica Bouwer, Tel 062 570317, 081 2790301, gmbouwer@iway.na.
Hoërand FA is holding an Old Years dance on December 29 at 19:00 at the FA hall at Farm Stubbenkamer, Maltahöhe district. Registration is N$100 per person for adults, N$50 for children under 12 years and entrance for pre-school children is free of charge. Dinner and dance is included in the registration fee and further details can be obtained from Antoinette Burger, Tel 081 2842744, antoiburger@gmail.com or MarykaTruter, Tel 081 2624146, hardegat@iway.na.
Hochfeld FA is holding its New Year party on December 31 at 19:00 at the Hochfeld Lodge. The costs are N$100 for adults, N$50 for children from 12 – 18 years and free of charge for children under the age of 12 years. Dinner and dance are included in the registration. For further details contact Marina von Dewitz, Tel 062 549026, 081 2304100, marinavondewith@gmail.com or Deoné Schlechter, Tel 062 549108, 081 3084931, deone@iway.na.


Exchange Rate NAD (17-23 November 2012)
November
EURO
USD
POUND
PULA
Saturday
17
11.294
8.862
14.076
1.103
Sunday
18
11.290
8.859
14.075
1.103
Monday
19
11.295
8.820
14.032
1.105
Tuesday
20
11.347
8.855
14.101
1.106
Wednesday
21
11.450
8.972
14.296
1.113
Thursday
22
11.508
8.939
14.238
1.112
Friday
23
11.499
8.875
14.225
1.110

WEEKLY
Exchange rate NAD (24-30 November 2012)
November
EURO
USD
POUND
PULA
Saturday
24
11.499
8.875
14.225
1.110
Sunday
25
11.527
8.883
14.241
1.109
Monday
26
11.497
8.867
14.199
1.109
Tuesday
27
11.426
8.830
14.153
1.108
Wednesday
28
11.407
8.827
14.120
1.103
Thursday
29
11.393
8.796
14.094
1.109
Friday
30
11.406
8.770
14.075
1.102