Schlettwein defends resettling 37 families on single farming unit
Support critical, minister says
The farm has a carrying capacity of 212 large stock units, which makes it suitable for the amount of livestock owned by the resettled beneficiaries.
A 2 835-hectare farm in the Otjozondjupa Region that was allocated to resettle 37 families is sufficient if beneficiaries utilise it to its maximum potential.
Land reform minister Calle Schlettwein said this in response to questions raised in parliament regarding the resettlement of the families from the Hochfeld area to Farm Otjisazu No 53 in the Otjozondjupa Region in March 2015.
“The resettlement of 37 families on a single farming unit is therefore in line with the resettlement policy and has been done [with] many other families in different regions before.”
Schlettwein said resettlement involves the voluntary relocation of individuals from an area with marginal agricultural conditions and poor social infrastructure to a place or area designated by the government where better land and social amenities can be provided.
“Government is to resettle eligible people in ways that are intuitionally, sociologically, economically and environmentally sustainable, and in such a way that they become self-supporting.”
Revision aimed at enhancing support
Schlettwein said the Agricultural (Commercial) Land Reform Act is the main legal framework that regulates the alienation of agricultural commercial land.
The minister explained that the national resettlement policy of 1998 was developed with the main aim of making settlers self-reliant in terms of food production, self-employment and income-generating skills.
The policy was revised to provide for different resettlement models and better support packages.
Post-settlement support
With a carrying capacity of 212 large stock units at Farm Otjisazu, it was sufficient for the 59 cattle, 170 goats and 24 sheep owned by the beneficiaries at the time of resettlement.
"Therefore, the 37 Hochfeld-evicted families were resettled on the single farming unit as a group," Schlettwein said.
The minister emphasised the necessity of providing post-settlement support for the families, including infrastructure for water supply, training and the commencement of income-generating projects.
“Other groups of people have been establishing legal entities, such as cooperatives, to benefit from resettlement as groups. Thus, we are happy to accommodate as many people as possible through resettlement.”
Schlettwein said the farm has the potential for crop production among other opportunities.
“We must remember that we have so many landless Namibians who need land. Thus, the focus should be on providing support to those already resettled and ensuring more people get resettled.”
Everyone has a role to play
The recently approved revised national resettlement policy of 2023 promotes the demarcation of smaller farming units, approximately 100 hectares each, under its low-value model.
Schlettwein said this approach allows for the accommodation of more beneficiaries who own fewer livestock and are interested in pursuing other agricultural or non-agricultural income-generating projects.
“The policy introduces new resettlement support packages. Thus, we shall be engaging different stakeholders, such as Agribank, to play their roles in ensuring productivity on resettlement farms.”
Schlettwein also explained that the ministry does not transfer farm debts to resettled beneficiaries.
Land reform minister Calle Schlettwein said this in response to questions raised in parliament regarding the resettlement of the families from the Hochfeld area to Farm Otjisazu No 53 in the Otjozondjupa Region in March 2015.
“The resettlement of 37 families on a single farming unit is therefore in line with the resettlement policy and has been done [with] many other families in different regions before.”
Schlettwein said resettlement involves the voluntary relocation of individuals from an area with marginal agricultural conditions and poor social infrastructure to a place or area designated by the government where better land and social amenities can be provided.
“Government is to resettle eligible people in ways that are intuitionally, sociologically, economically and environmentally sustainable, and in such a way that they become self-supporting.”
Revision aimed at enhancing support
Schlettwein said the Agricultural (Commercial) Land Reform Act is the main legal framework that regulates the alienation of agricultural commercial land.
The minister explained that the national resettlement policy of 1998 was developed with the main aim of making settlers self-reliant in terms of food production, self-employment and income-generating skills.
The policy was revised to provide for different resettlement models and better support packages.
Post-settlement support
With a carrying capacity of 212 large stock units at Farm Otjisazu, it was sufficient for the 59 cattle, 170 goats and 24 sheep owned by the beneficiaries at the time of resettlement.
"Therefore, the 37 Hochfeld-evicted families were resettled on the single farming unit as a group," Schlettwein said.
The minister emphasised the necessity of providing post-settlement support for the families, including infrastructure for water supply, training and the commencement of income-generating projects.
“Other groups of people have been establishing legal entities, such as cooperatives, to benefit from resettlement as groups. Thus, we are happy to accommodate as many people as possible through resettlement.”
Schlettwein said the farm has the potential for crop production among other opportunities.
“We must remember that we have so many landless Namibians who need land. Thus, the focus should be on providing support to those already resettled and ensuring more people get resettled.”
Everyone has a role to play
The recently approved revised national resettlement policy of 2023 promotes the demarcation of smaller farming units, approximately 100 hectares each, under its low-value model.
Schlettwein said this approach allows for the accommodation of more beneficiaries who own fewer livestock and are interested in pursuing other agricultural or non-agricultural income-generating projects.
“The policy introduces new resettlement support packages. Thus, we shall be engaging different stakeholders, such as Agribank, to play their roles in ensuring productivity on resettlement farms.”
Schlettwein also explained that the ministry does not transfer farm debts to resettled beneficiaries.
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