Drought knocks Operation Werengendje
Over N$600 000 that was invested in the much-praised Operation Werengendje agriculture project went to waste during the 2018/19 because of the drought.
Kavango East governor Samuel Mbambo told Namibian Sun the funds that were shared with six constituencies did not unlock the expected outcome.
“You see, what we could not do was have a bumper harvest, because of issues beyond our control.
“We could not have the profit nor the outcome, because some crops grew to knee level and dried up, and others started to have some seeds, but they dried up because of the disaster, so to say.
“We invested money, but we could not get something out. As the old people will say, it went into the water, but that is what agriculture is all about,” Mbambo said. Operation Werengendje was launched in 2016 and aims to assist and inspire farmers to produce food in order to sustain themselves and promote food security.
Since its inception, each of the six constituencies receive N$100 000 each per year, which is meant to subsidise farmers when they procure tractor services for ploughing and weeding.
Mbambo explained that each farmer is entitled to a subsidy when ploughing three hectares.
With tractor services costing N$750 per hectare, a farmer only pays N$400.
The funds were donated to the governor's office by fishing companies Namsov and Fishcor, as well as through support from various stakeholders.
Namsov over the past three years gave each region N$500 000 per year, while Fishcor gave N$300 000.
However, Namsov's three-year contract came to an end last year, meaning Fishcor's funds would have to keep the project going.
When asked whether the reduced funds will negatively impact the success of Operation Werengendje, Mbambo said it was not about the ploughing alone, but awakening the spirit of farming amongst communities, so that people can work.
“This year we might get N$400 000 for each region and we will see how much we can give each constituency,” Mbambo said.
“We are not only depending on that money. It is only part of a bigger programme.”
Mbambo called on farmers who are able to procure tractor services to start and aim for a bumper harvest during the 2019/20 growing season.
KENYA KAMBOWE
Kavango East governor Samuel Mbambo told Namibian Sun the funds that were shared with six constituencies did not unlock the expected outcome.
“You see, what we could not do was have a bumper harvest, because of issues beyond our control.
“We could not have the profit nor the outcome, because some crops grew to knee level and dried up, and others started to have some seeds, but they dried up because of the disaster, so to say.
“We invested money, but we could not get something out. As the old people will say, it went into the water, but that is what agriculture is all about,” Mbambo said. Operation Werengendje was launched in 2016 and aims to assist and inspire farmers to produce food in order to sustain themselves and promote food security.
Since its inception, each of the six constituencies receive N$100 000 each per year, which is meant to subsidise farmers when they procure tractor services for ploughing and weeding.
Mbambo explained that each farmer is entitled to a subsidy when ploughing three hectares.
With tractor services costing N$750 per hectare, a farmer only pays N$400.
The funds were donated to the governor's office by fishing companies Namsov and Fishcor, as well as through support from various stakeholders.
Namsov over the past three years gave each region N$500 000 per year, while Fishcor gave N$300 000.
However, Namsov's three-year contract came to an end last year, meaning Fishcor's funds would have to keep the project going.
When asked whether the reduced funds will negatively impact the success of Operation Werengendje, Mbambo said it was not about the ploughing alone, but awakening the spirit of farming amongst communities, so that people can work.
“This year we might get N$400 000 for each region and we will see how much we can give each constituency,” Mbambo said.
“We are not only depending on that money. It is only part of a bigger programme.”
Mbambo called on farmers who are able to procure tractor services to start and aim for a bumper harvest during the 2019/20 growing season.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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