 |
| 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: NEVER LET A BAD DAY MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE A BAD LIFE
In today’s
newsletter:
·
LPO presents
Meatco submission to PS of Agriculture
·
Master
Agronomist: Irrigation: 2013
·
EU briefs the
civil community about development aid
·
FA and other news
Weekly exchange rate
LPO presents Meatco submission to PS of Agriculture
The chairperson of the Livestock Producers
Organisation (LPO), Mr Mecki Schneider presented a submission about the future
ownership and structure of Meatco to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of
Agriculture on Monday, January 25, 2013. The LPO drafted this submission
following an invitation which the PS made to all role players in December 2012
to give their inputs about the proposed Act and Regulations which were
presented to all role playersbefore January 31, 2013.
The submission is based on an analysis of the proposed
Act and Regulations measured against the international accepted criteria with
regard to Government involvement in business as well as acceptable criteria for
good corporate governance. In the submission the LPO requests a further
consultation with the LPO in order to structure the future Meatco in such a
manner that it will be acceptable for both Government and the producers.
The PS accepted the submission and indicated that he
will study it.
Master Agronomist: Irrigation: 2013
The Agronomic Board’s custom to annually appoint a Master
Agronomist for Namibia again realised. An evaluation team comprising 4 members
this week visited irrigation schemes in the North of the country. Interviews
were held with each farmer and his farms evaluated. The evaluation team consisted
of Antoinette Venter of the Agronomic Board, Werner von Maltzahn an agronomic
producer, Floris Smit, the previous Master Agronomist and Danie van Vuuren who
represented the NAU commodities.
Mr Sean Nicholson, a former Zimbabwean farmer was
appointed as the Namibian Master Agronomist for irrigation for 2013. He farms
at Mashare, 50km east of Rundu at the Kavango River. He experiments inter alia
with new variety maize of which the plant is smaller, but the maize head bigger
and heavier. He thus also cultivates maize seeds for these new varieties which are hardy and suited for dryland agronomy. Sean
also impressed with the storing of wheat after harvesting which is stored in
dams which are lined with sand bags and sails. The harvest is sold at a time
when there is a big demand and prices are good. The evaluating team also was
impressed with his use of normal “sprayers” on large parts of this farm instead
of normal centre pivot sprayers which are very expensive.
EU briefs the civil community about development aid
On Thursday, January 31, 2013 the EU held a
consultative meeting with representatives of the civil society about the EU’s
development program for Namibia for 2014 – 2017. The EU Ambassador, Mr Raoul
Fuentis Milani mentioned that Namibia is seen as an average-income country and
that development aid will lessen in order to have more money available for
least-developed countries. A budget for 131 million Euro was allocated to
Namibia. This development aid will be supportive to the aims as contained in
the National Development Plan 4 (NDP4).
The development aid from Europe to Namibia will rest
mainly on 2 pillars, namely human rights inclusive democracy and good corporate
governance as well as inclusive and sustainable growth for human development.
Through this consultation program the EU currently is busy to identify these
requirements in support of the EU. Regarding rural development, a lot of
emphasize is placed on the development of communal farming.
Agra converts to public Company
Agra’s
conversion to a public Company comes into force today, February 1, 2013. All
the members of the cooperative will be shareholders of Agra Limited. As soon as
the shareholding certificates are issued to them, shareholders may sell the
shares or buy more shares.
The gross return of the group last year increased with
3% to N$1,83 milliard whilst the net return increased with 13% to N$1,073
milliard.
According to the Executive Head, Mr Peter Kazmaier no
dividends will be declared as Agra will this year and in future undertake
various capital projects. Some of these projects will be financed from own
sources. Agra’s total equity currently amounts to N$134 million.
The net asset value of one Agra-share has improved
from N$1,17 in 2009 to N$1,70 on July 31, 2012.
Agra’s first big investment has already been done by the
re-allocation of the Windhoek branch at the Auas Valley shopping centre to the
Lafrenz industrial area in the north of the town. Four erven were purchased
which will be consolidated to enable the building of a new, bigger branch and
it is expected that it will be completed in November this year.
Request for information
In 2013 the Gobabis Show will be 50 years old. They
are busy compiling a commemorative album about the past 50 years. An urgent
request is done for any information (stories, photo’s, funnies, historical
moments, etc) to the Show Society. All items must be clearly marked so that
they can be sent back. Please send this information to whaddon@africaonline.com.na or to P O Box 1120, Gobabis.
FA and other news
Karasberge FA is holding a management meeting on February 7 at
12:00 and a General Meeting at 15:00 at the FA hall. For further information
contact Amelia van Rooyen, Tel 063 280677, jarooyen@iway.na.
Dordabis
FA is
holding a meeting on February 7 at 14:00 at the FA hall. Guest speaker is Mr
Mihe Gaomab of Biofuels. For further details contact Mrs Christine Romeis, Tel
061 231230, cwromeis@iway.na or dordabis@yahoo.com.
Omuramba FA is holding a meeting on February 12 at 15:00 at
Kroonster. A representative from Mister Sister will be the guest speaker. For
further details contact Mrs Lottering, Tel 062 571537, 081 6270149.
Witvlei FA is holding a meeting on February 13 at 15:00 at the
farmer house at Witvlei. Guest speaker is the president of the NAU, Mr Derek
Wright and Mr Fouche Viljoen who will talk about solar power and the inclusion
thereof at NamPower. For further details contact Monica Bouwer, Tel 062 570317, gmbouwer@iway.na.
Summerdown FA is holding a member meeting on February 19 at 15:00
at the FA hall. The theme is “The way forward for Summerdown FA”. For further
details contact Sunette Blaauw, Tel 062 561647, welverdiend@iway.na.
Aranos FA is holding a member meeting on February 21 at 16:00.
Guest speaker is Dr Thomas Tolmay, the Hardap Veterinary who will talk about
vaccination principles and group de-wormers. For further details contact Joleen
Mans, Tel 081 228988, kierie@iway.na.
The American Mustang taming and
special training champions, Mark and Miranda Lyon are offering horsemanship and Western horse riding
clinics from April 6 – 22. These clinics are offered at the Kooimasis
Ranch, Helmeringhausen. For further details contact Wulf, Tel 081 2628545 or
Tommy, juniorizko@hotmail.com. Information is also available on the website www.quarterhorsesnamibia.com and on Facebook www.facebook.com/Ranch.Kooimasis. Information / introduction days are also offered on
the following days: on Friday afternoon, March 29 at the Quiver Tree Forest
Rest Camp, Keetmanshoop. Enquiries can be addressed to Mr Visser, Tel 063
683421. On Saturday afternoon, March 30 at Farm Kameelboom, Stampriet.
Enquiries can be addressed to Mr Garbers, Tel 063 272394. On Monday, April 1 at
Farm Hochfels, Windhoek. Enquiries can be addressed to Mr Kiekebusch, Tel 061
232625.
The Meatco
Inter Farmers Association braai competition will be held on April 12 &
13 at the school grounds of the Elnatan School, Stampriet. Artists who will
entertain at the competition are the Sarel du Toit Boere orkes and Thys the
Bosveldklong. Further details will be given in due course and can be obtained
from Dina Kotze, ruzelle@iway.na.
The Young Farmer
farmers day will be held on May 15 & 16 at Farm Nabome, Aranos of
Hannes and Jomarie Visagie. Further details will be given in due course and can
be obtained from Hannes Visagie, Tel 081 1249902 or 063 275342, jwv@mweb.com.na.
|
WEEKLY
|
|||||
|
Exchange Rate NAD (26 January to 01 February 2013)
|
|||||
|
January
|
EURO
|
USD
|
POUND
|
PULA
|
|
|
Saturday
|
26
|
12.037
|
8.942
|
14.131
|
1.111
|
|
Sunday
|
27
|
12.037
|
8.942
|
14.136
|
1.111
|
|
Monday
|
28
|
12.287
|
9.129
|
14.317
|
1.133
|
|
Tuesday
|
29
|
12.172
|
9.028
|
14.217
|
1.119
|
|
Wednesday
|
30
|
12.276
|
9.050
|
14.291
|
1.121
|
|
Thursday
|
31
|
12.163
|
8.954
|
14.197
|
1.117
|
|
Friday (Feb)
|
01
|
12.203
|
8.959
|
14.219
|
1.115
|
Saturday to Thursday: 17:00 UTC
(Coordinated Universal Time)
Friday: 07:00 UTC
No comments:
Post a Comment