Erongo beneficiaries receive goats
Goats were handed over to 20 beneficiaries in the Erongo Region by the agriculture ministry through the Small Stock Development and Distribution to Communal Areas (SSDDCAs) project.
Erongo is one of the six regions that benefited during the 2019/20 financial year.
However, distribution could not be done earlier due to prolonged drought and the delayed onset of rainfall for the 2019/20 rain season.
“The region confirmed that the rangeland conditions have improved to sustain the breeding materials we are handing over today,” said agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb at the handover, which took place at Dawaseb West.
He handed over 20 does and one buck.
!Naruseb said each beneficiary will also be supported with the construction of kraals, small stock equipment as well as veterinary vaccines and drugs.
He added a revolving agreement will be signed between the ministry and the beneficiaries to ensure that the goats are used for the intended purpose.
“As per the revolving agreement, the beneficiaries are expected to revolve the first 10 does during the third year to the benefit of other community members, the next five does during the fourth year and the last five does during the fifth year.”
He said the beneficiaries will also be informed about the project bylaws and protocol that stipulate the terms and conditions as well as the parties' responsibilities during the implementation of the project.
“The ministry will also empower the beneficiaries and neighbouring communities with training in small stock management.”
According to !Naruseb, the SSDDCAs project is a capital project initiated by the ministry as a follow-up phase of a similar project that was successfully implemented and known as the Small Stock Support Project (SSSP).
This was piloted and implemented in the Hardap, //Karas and Omaheke regions. The project was rolled out to the communal areas in all 14 regions and the Kavango West, Oshana and Kunene regions benefited between 2015 to 2016.
!Naruseb said that the SSDDCAs project is aimed at providing a quality core breeding flock of suitable goats to vulnerable households to gain a sustainable means of income-generation and enhanced food and nutrition security, while improving their social and economic well-being.
According to !Naruseb, the project strives to build the resilience of these farming households to the effects of climate change.
“It is a well-known fact that Namibia is one of the countries that is negatively affected by climate change.”
He said vulnerable households that own either a few livestock or none are severely affected by the effects of drought, pests and disease outbreaks.
According to !Naruseb, the beneficiaries were selected by constituency committees in collaboration with traditional authorities.
He said the ministry believes that this consultative approach will create a sense of ownership amongst the region's political and traditional leaders, as well as the respective beneficiaries.
ELLANIE SMIT
Erongo is one of the six regions that benefited during the 2019/20 financial year.
However, distribution could not be done earlier due to prolonged drought and the delayed onset of rainfall for the 2019/20 rain season.
“The region confirmed that the rangeland conditions have improved to sustain the breeding materials we are handing over today,” said agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb at the handover, which took place at Dawaseb West.
He handed over 20 does and one buck.
!Naruseb said each beneficiary will also be supported with the construction of kraals, small stock equipment as well as veterinary vaccines and drugs.
He added a revolving agreement will be signed between the ministry and the beneficiaries to ensure that the goats are used for the intended purpose.
“As per the revolving agreement, the beneficiaries are expected to revolve the first 10 does during the third year to the benefit of other community members, the next five does during the fourth year and the last five does during the fifth year.”
He said the beneficiaries will also be informed about the project bylaws and protocol that stipulate the terms and conditions as well as the parties' responsibilities during the implementation of the project.
“The ministry will also empower the beneficiaries and neighbouring communities with training in small stock management.”
According to !Naruseb, the SSDDCAs project is a capital project initiated by the ministry as a follow-up phase of a similar project that was successfully implemented and known as the Small Stock Support Project (SSSP).
This was piloted and implemented in the Hardap, //Karas and Omaheke regions. The project was rolled out to the communal areas in all 14 regions and the Kavango West, Oshana and Kunene regions benefited between 2015 to 2016.
!Naruseb said that the SSDDCAs project is aimed at providing a quality core breeding flock of suitable goats to vulnerable households to gain a sustainable means of income-generation and enhanced food and nutrition security, while improving their social and economic well-being.
According to !Naruseb, the project strives to build the resilience of these farming households to the effects of climate change.
“It is a well-known fact that Namibia is one of the countries that is negatively affected by climate change.”
He said vulnerable households that own either a few livestock or none are severely affected by the effects of drought, pests and disease outbreaks.
According to !Naruseb, the beneficiaries were selected by constituency committees in collaboration with traditional authorities.
He said the ministry believes that this consultative approach will create a sense of ownership amongst the region's political and traditional leaders, as well as the respective beneficiaries.
ELLANIE SMIT
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