Resettled farmers receive intensive training
The latest newly resettled farmers in Otjozondjupa, Oshikoto and Kunene regions have received their allotment letters from the lands ministry after receiving intensive training on various farming disciplines.
The farmers were allocated land on the acquired, planned and demarcated six farms with 13 farming units.
This is according to lands and agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein.
In a speech read on his behalf by the ministry’s deputy executive director Penda Ithindi at a pre-settlement workshop for the farmers, he said the 13 farming units were advertised from 1 June 2021 to 2 July 2021 and from 13 August 2021 to 13 September 2021, and were subsequently allocated following rigorous processes and criteria.
The current main production activities on these farms is animal husbandry, crop farming and horticulture activities.
“No doubt, the allotment of these farming units is a significant opportunity for this cohort of beneficiaries of the land resettlement programme,” Schlettwein said.
He stressed that land is a productive asset and, when utilised productively and profitably, it can unleash the generation of wealth, creation of jobs and the erosion of poverty and inequalities, given the contemporary and historical context of our country.
Empowerment
The minister said to date, a total of 5 398 Namibians has been resettled under the Land Reform Programme.
“You are the latest beneficiaries of this programme, which also serves as an empowerment tool through acquisition of land, a productive asset, by making you self-employed, [able to] employ others and contribute to socio-economic development objectives.”
He told the beneficiaries that they are expected to manage the allotted unit productively and profitably and ensure the realisation of increasing net-economic gains for the country.
They must also contribute to the growth of the country’s economy and gross domestic product, which only occurs if production from their farming unit increases on an annual basis.
Furthermore, they have been urged to contribute to increased national food and nutrition security as well as increasing earnings.
Schlettwein said in accordance with the National Resettlement Policy of 2001, all resettled commercial farmers are expected to be self-reliant on the back of the initial support services and capacity-building such as the training they just received.
Support
It is in this regard, he said, that the ministry, in collaboration with the Agribank, came up with various initiatives earmarked for pre- and post-resettlement support, especially for newly resettled commercial farmers.
Since the roll-out of these support programmes, resettled farmers have participated in different flagship sessions including farmer information days, short courses, excursions and mentorship programmes in various farming disciplines.
The post-settlement intervention programmes are offered annually.
According to the minister, this is 10th such event in a training series where resettled commercial farmers are inducted and trained prior to taking up their farming units.
The farmers were allocated land on the acquired, planned and demarcated six farms with 13 farming units.
This is according to lands and agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein.
In a speech read on his behalf by the ministry’s deputy executive director Penda Ithindi at a pre-settlement workshop for the farmers, he said the 13 farming units were advertised from 1 June 2021 to 2 July 2021 and from 13 August 2021 to 13 September 2021, and were subsequently allocated following rigorous processes and criteria.
The current main production activities on these farms is animal husbandry, crop farming and horticulture activities.
“No doubt, the allotment of these farming units is a significant opportunity for this cohort of beneficiaries of the land resettlement programme,” Schlettwein said.
He stressed that land is a productive asset and, when utilised productively and profitably, it can unleash the generation of wealth, creation of jobs and the erosion of poverty and inequalities, given the contemporary and historical context of our country.
Empowerment
The minister said to date, a total of 5 398 Namibians has been resettled under the Land Reform Programme.
“You are the latest beneficiaries of this programme, which also serves as an empowerment tool through acquisition of land, a productive asset, by making you self-employed, [able to] employ others and contribute to socio-economic development objectives.”
He told the beneficiaries that they are expected to manage the allotted unit productively and profitably and ensure the realisation of increasing net-economic gains for the country.
They must also contribute to the growth of the country’s economy and gross domestic product, which only occurs if production from their farming unit increases on an annual basis.
Furthermore, they have been urged to contribute to increased national food and nutrition security as well as increasing earnings.
Schlettwein said in accordance with the National Resettlement Policy of 2001, all resettled commercial farmers are expected to be self-reliant on the back of the initial support services and capacity-building such as the training they just received.
Support
It is in this regard, he said, that the ministry, in collaboration with the Agribank, came up with various initiatives earmarked for pre- and post-resettlement support, especially for newly resettled commercial farmers.
Since the roll-out of these support programmes, resettled farmers have participated in different flagship sessions including farmer information days, short courses, excursions and mentorship programmes in various farming disciplines.
The post-settlement intervention programmes are offered annually.
According to the minister, this is 10th such event in a training series where resettled commercial farmers are inducted and trained prior to taking up their farming units.
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