Farmers learn at Helmeringhausen

The Helmeringhausen Farmers Association last week hosted a Winter School that was attended by more than 100 people. The theme for this year is “How do I start again after the drought?” The president of the Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU), Ryno van der Merwe started the day by focussing on the recent successes of the NAU as well as a change in the financing mechanism of the union. He informed farmers that countries that have a successful agricultural sector are countries where producers have proper organised structures. The executive manager of the union, Sakkie Coetzee, gave an overview of the latest development with regard to land reform. Mecki Schneider gave a brief background in terms of the establishment of the National Rangeland Policy and the importance of rangeland as the foundation of profitable cattle production. He emphasised the actions of the commercial working group about rangeland management which is currently on-going and which includes addressing policy matters and practical actions such as training farmers and distribution of information, documenting best practices and applied research. Actions which should improve the financial position, such as the involvement in the total value chain in the restoration of rangeland and the most sustainable lamb production system, are critical to ensure growth and profitability. Two successful producers from the Helmeringhausen FA elaborated on the theme. Jörn Miller delivered a presentation on rainfall statistics of three farms in the area over the last 100 years for the wet and drought periods. For the past five years since 2013, the biggest part of the Helmeringhausen district received under-normal rainfall and producers are under enormous pressure to survive. Another producer, Joe Gaugler, shared information about his production system where more profit is generated by marketing lambs at a younger age and lighter weight. By marketing his lambs at 4 months at a carcass weight of 12 to 13kg, he makes more profit than marketing the lambs at the minimum weight of 16kg. On top of it, he saves about 6 months grazing which is of great value during drought times. His experience is that to farm with sheep which are adapted for this environment and to continuously focus on good rangeland management, he can still produce profitable stock in an arid climate. Helmeringhausen FA sees it as very important to involve emerging producers in the vicinity at information days. Aloys Boys, a representative from NECFU (Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers Union), spoke about the activities of the emerging working group about rangeland management, while Johannes Motinga, a successful farmer and member of Helmeringhausen FA shared success stories of emerging farmers who took part in the mentorship programs. Both these speakers agreed that all farmers in the commercial area should cooperate in order to ensure success. Two rangeland experts, Leon Lubbe of the research department at the Ministry of Agriculture Bertus Kruger of Agra ProVision, gave information about the latest satellite technology which is currently being developed to estimate kilogrammes of grass produced, in order to assist producers to take marketing decisions timeously. Lubbe said the availability of a variety bush veld and grass in the south western part of the country, enables farmers to overcome droughts saying droughts are a general feature and farming systems make provision for them. The biggest veld conservation effect with the least negative effect on the reproduction potential is gained when the pressure on rangeland is decreased by a third before the drought. During the second day of the Winter School, a practical session of rangeland management took place on Joe Gaugler's farm. Participants were informed about methods on how to determine rangeland condition, important indicator grass- and bush species which must continuously be monitored to determine whether the veld improves or deteriorates. It is critically important that producers know the value of these species and spent time in the veld to be able to assess the veld condition. STAFF REPORTER

Farmers learn at Helmeringhausen

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-03

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Farmers learn at Helmeringhausen

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-03

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