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| Namibia Agriculture Union: NAU |
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 MUST GOVERN
THE CLOCK, NOT BE GOVERNED BY IT – Golda Meir
In vandag se nuusbrief
·
NAU president met Economic Parliamentary Committee
about Meatco ownership
·
LPO held special meeting
·
NAU visits Minister of Mines and Energy
·
FA and other news
NAU president met Economic Parliamentary Committee
about Meatco ownership
On invitation this week the president of the NAU, Mr Derek Wright
assisted by the Executive Manager, Mr Sakkie Coetzee met Dr Ben Amadhila, the
chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics, Natural
Resources and Public Administration. The invitation was extended in order to
inform the committee about the Livestock Producer Organisation’s (LPO) view
point about the proposed Meatco ownership.
The submission to the committee is based on the
submission which the LPO made to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of
Agriculture, Water and Forestry earlier this year. This submission is a result
of an invitation the PS made to producers to give their proposals about the
proposed Meatco Act.
In his submission Mr Wright compared the proposed
Meatco Act with international recognised criteria in terms of the function of
Government, the duty of the private sector as well as criteria for good
corporate governance. He made it clear that Government’s function is to create
a conducive environment for the private sector to operate in and not to
interfere in private business. He also made it clear that it is the objectives
of the private business to ensure maximum payment for the producers and that it
should not be mixed with the objectives of a development organisation.
Mr Wright also questioned the matter about the
appointment of Board members rather than that Board members should be elected
and thus could be held responsible if Meatco does not comply with the
objectives to compete internationally and get maximum prices for producers.
Mr Wright requested the committee to re-open the
debate about the future ownership of Meatco before the proposed Act will be
tabled, in order to create a structure which will be acceptable for both, the
producers and Government.
LPO held special meeting
The LPO management together with experts held a special meeting on
Monday, April 8, 2013 in order to discuss the eroding of the price systems of
the meat industry as well as the current and future limitations which prevent
growth in the meat industry.
The meeting agreed that –
1. The uncertainty about the Meatco ownership does not
inspire the producer’s trust and that groupings are formed which identify
marketing opportunities to vest markets for the national cattle herds;
2. Another source of frustration is the unknown number of
cattle which are reclaimed by informal markets. The inaccurate amount of
slaughtering cause that it is difficult to do planning;
3. The current imbalanced production systems (few ox
producers in comparison with growing weaner producers) must be balanced through
training of newcomers in the industry (resettlement farmers, etc) as well as
the implementation of the rangeland strategy principles. Droughts must serve as
base for planning;
4. That it should be strived to form a Negotiation Forum
with Government in order to re-open discussions with regard to the future
ownership of Meatco. To reach this goal, producers must also attempt to make
concessions. If these matters are cleared, the LPO plans to hold a road show to
inform members accordingly.
NAU visits Minister of Mines and Energy
A delegation of the Infrastructure Committee of the
Executive Council of the NAU this week visited the Minister of Mines and
Energy, Minister Katali. The Minister was assisted by delegates from the
Electricity Control Board and NamPower.
Members in the commercial agricultural sector
currently are signing new agreements with NamPower and the various electricity providing
bodies. The NAU, however, is concerned that these agreements are signed in the
absence of a comprehensive policy especially with regard to solar generation
and the possible feeding of such power into the national electricity network.
The NAU furthermore is concerned that the current high power tariffs will cause
that farmers will generate their own solar power and will not use NamPower or
other power suppliers any more which could mean that this infrastructure will
be unused.
The NAU is of the opinion that a National Policy must
be created to give independent power providers the opportunity to generate
their own power and to sell the surplus. Minister Katali, however, pointed out
that this is an expensive option for the national power providers and that
should farmers generate their own power, they should not expect to make any profits
from this.
The Electricity Control Board has acknowledged the NAU
as role player and they will in future take part in workshops especially if
policy aspects are discussed.
FA and other news
The Agronomic
Producers Association is holding its member
meeting on April 16 at 08:30 at the 2013 Master Agronomist, Mr Sean
Nicholson of the Mashara Agriculture Development Institute (MADI), 45km east of
Rundu. At 12:090 the Master Agronomist Day will start and speakers at the
opportunity are inter alia the Minister of Agriculture, Water & Forestry,
Honourable John Mutorwa, Dr A Nel and Dr C Schmidt. From 16:00 a sightseeing
tour of the project will be held and the day will be concluded at 18:00 with a
Braai. For further details contact Annatjie du Preez, Tel 061 237838, annatjie@agrinamibia.com.na.
Otavi FA is holding a member meeting on
April 17 at 08:30 in the Neels van Tonder hall at the Otavi auction pens. Guest
speakers are Messers Gernot Eggert and Harald Schütt. Please register before
April 14 with Christine Stoman, Tel 081 2446034.
Dordabis FA is holding a member meeting on April 18 at 13:00 at the FA hall. Guest
speakers are Mr Johan Smith of Windhoek Livestock Auctioneers, the president of
the NAU Mr Derek Wright and Messrs M Krafft and H P Lühl of the Dordabis FA.
For further details contact Christine Romeis, Tel 061 231230, dordabis@yahoo.com.
Karasberg FA is holding a management meeting on April 18 at 11:00 at the FA hall and
at 14:00 a general meeting. Management requests all members to attend the
meeting. For further details contact Amelia van Rooyen, Tel 063 280677, jarooyen@iway.na.
Bethanie FA is holding a meeting on April
18 at 16:00 at the Bethanie guesthouse. Further details from Ina de Klerk, Tel
063 683521, ina.deklerk@gmail.com.
The Santa
Gertrudis Breeders Association of Namibia is hosting a two-day judging
course on April 23 & 24, 2013 at the farms of Ben & Engela Human
(Markost) and Ingo and Bärbel Rix (Sachsenwald). Registration is N$500 per
person. Please register before April 12, 2013. For any further enquiries
contact Maxie Boehmcker, Tel 081 2688939 of 081 8947424 of epos namibiasantagertrudis@gmail.com. Santa Gertudis ideally
for cross breeding. Light calves at birth and fast growth.
The Medical Aid NAMMED is holding its Annual General Meeting on April 24 at
18:00 at the Safari Court Hotel. For further details contact the NAMMED office
in Windhoek at Tel 061 374600, nammed@paramount.com.na or the Otjiwarongo office
at Tel 067302274, otjibranch@paramount.com.na.
Nurugas FA is holding a shooting day on
April 27 at 08:00. Shooting with a .22 will be done and during lunch Mr Mecki
Schneider will talk about the drought. The day is concluded with a dinner and
dance. For further details contact Anet Kok, Tel 067 232654, bstroom@iway.na.
The Outjo Game
Festival will be held on May 3 & 4 at the Sophienhof Lodge, 10km
outside Outjo on the Khorixas road. Artists which take part are Steve Hofmeyer
(Friday evening) and Gerhard Steyn (Saturday evening) and the traditional
auction and a Rodeo will be held. There are numerous stands where different
products can be bought. For further details contact Andre Lombard, Tel 081
1282811, Fanie Heimstadt, 067 312129 or if you are interested in a stand,
please contact Lindie Lombard, Tel 081 2427792.
Hoërand FA will host a 4x4 vasbyt on
May 4 at Farm Graal of Mr Willie Truter in the Maltahöhe district. Everybody is
welcome, four wheel, motor cycles, etc. and the costs are N$100 for vehicles
and N$50 for motor cycles. Camping is available free of charge for the weekend.
The day will be concluded with a prize giving and Steak braai and the costs for
this are N$80 for adults and N$50 for children under the age of 12 years.
Further details from Antoinette of Barite Burger, Tel 063 683360, 081 2742844, antoiburger@gmail.com.
Aroab FA is hosting a Kalahari
Vasbyt Fun Day on May 4 at the school grounds of the Excelsior Private School.
For further details contact Georgia Viljoen, Tel 081 7639948, bvaroab@gmail.com.
The Young Farmer farmers day
will be held on May 15 & 16 at Farm Nabome, Aranos of Hannes and Jomarie Visagie. The program start on May 15 at 09:00 and speakers are
Dr Jasper Coetzee, Dr Hensie Lategan, Mr Pieter Hugo and at the women’s program
“gardening with Effekto” will be discussed. On Thursday, May 16 the program
starts at 08:00 and the speakers are Mr Hannes Visagie, Mr Hein Wagner, Mr
Ernst Janovsky and Mr Derek Wright.
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.
The 2013 Dare to Care Disaster
Fund golf day will be held on May
31, 2013 at the Omeya golf course outside Windhoek. During the past 5 years
the Dare to Care Disaster Fund has paid ± N$120 000 to victims of veld fires,
floods, farm attacks, etc. The costs for the golf day per team of 4 players are
N$3 000 and if they also take a golf cart it will be N$3 500 per team. We also
appeal to farmers to donate prizes for the golf day. For further details and
entry forms contact Erika, Tel 061 237838, evg@agrinamibia.com.na
The following courses are
offered:
INDIGENIOUS GOATS:
27 & 28 March 2013: a course at John Pandeni, Grootfontein. Costs
N$150,00. 9 May 2013: an information day at Namboer, Windhoek from 11:00 –
13:00.
BOER GOATS:
From 19 – 21 June 2013 an information day and Jnr course at Tsumis
Agricultural College. 27 June 2013 a breeders’ day at Namboer Windhoek from
09:00 – 13:00. From 23 – 25 July 2013 an information day, jnr & snr course
at NLA, Mariental.
VAN ROOY SHEEP:
From 23 – 24 July 2013 a jnr & snr course at Namboer, Windhoek. Costs
N$300.
DAMARA SHEEP:
From 20 – 21 June 2013 a jnr
& snr course at Namboer, Windhoek. Costs N$450 (meals included).
For further details and
registration contact Carina Vermeulen - 061-252994 (only mornings) /
e-mail: btgn@mweb.com.na.
A Brangus Promotion Day will
be held on May 25 at 08:30 at the Blaauwberg auction pens at Farm Namatubis.
Speakers are inter alia Dr Martin Ferreira from Virbac, Dr Paul Lubout and Mr
Gero Bajorat from DIS Engineering. During the ladies’ program Antoinette de
Chavonnes Vrugt will hold a food demonstration. The day is concluded with a
steak braai and dance. For further details contact Magdel Pretorius, Tel 067
313061, magdelp@iway.na or click on the following link:
A Simbra
farmers day will be held on June 5 at 09:00 at farm Neu Otjisauona of
Diethelm and Katja Metzger. Guest speakers are Mr Derek Wright, the president
of the NAU, Dr Michael Bradfield and Mr Peter Massmann. The day is concluded
with a braai. For further details and to register contact Diethelm or Katja
Metzger, Tel 062 682115 or Hennie Kruger, Tel 081 2964280.
Grootfontein/Tsumeb/Otavi (GTO) RAU is hosting a fire
fighting day on June 15 at 07:30 at the Dornhügel Guest Farm, 40km on the
Rundu Berg Aukas road. Matters such as legal accountability, fire belts and
preventative fires and measures how to prevent fires will be discussed and at
13:00 a sightseeing of the burned parts on Dornhügel will be visited. Costs are
N$80 per person and only persons who registered can take part. Please register
before May 20 with Willem Enslin, Tel 081 2305078.
A Simmentaler
judging course will be held from July 16 – 18 in the Gobabis vicinity.
Interested parties can contact Mr H Kruger, simnamibia@gmail.com.
Karibib
FA is holding a meeting on
July 20 at 16:00 at Farm Habis Noord of Dr Herbert Schneider. Guest speakers
are Mr Gladis who will talk about farm safety and a person from Radio
Electronics who will talk about farm radios. For further details contact Mrs
Gladis, Tel 061 248480, doris.gladis@elvey.zo.ca.
|
WEEKLY
|
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|
Exchange Rate NAD (06-12 April 2013)
|
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|
March
|
EURO
|
USD
|
POUND
|
PULA
|
|
|
Saturday
|
6
|
11.733
|
9.080
|
13.821
|
1.110
|
|
Sunday
|
7
|
11.736
|
9.080
|
13.821
|
1.110
|
|
Monday
|
8
|
11.734
|
9.021
|
13.762
|
1.108
|
|
Tuesday
|
9
|
11.673
|
8.916
|
13.657
|
1.103
|
|
Wednesday
|
10
|
11.623
|
8.903
|
13.633
|
1.100
|
|
Thursday
|
11
|
11.679
|
8.899
|
13.706
|
1.102
|
|
Friday
|
12
|
11.677
|
8.935
|
13.739
|
1.108
|
|
Saturday
to Thursday: 16:00 UTC (Coordinated
Universal Time)
|
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|
Friday: 07:52 UTC
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