Resettled farmers must commercialise
Minister of land reform Utoni Nujoma last week advised resettled farmers to transition from subsistence to commercial farming.
“Just like full commercial farmers, resettlement farmers are expected to contribute to the country's agricultural economy,” was Nujoma's advice.
Nujoma was expected to address farmers at a resettlement farmers' symposium at Farm Tsumore No. 761 adjacent to the Otjikoto Lake, but failed to show up due to ill health.
His speech was delivered by Oshikoto governor Henock Kankoshi.
The symposium, a yearly event, provides an opportunity for resettled farmers to share the successes and failures of their agricultural ventures.
According to the directorate of land reform and resettlement, adherence to carrying capacity and land use on farm units, as well as the recurring problem of sub-leasing, is poor.
Nujoma said these matters were continuously monitored and cases of illegal sub-leasing, illegal occupations and non-adherence to the carrying capacity of the land were recorded.
One of the matters that emerged at the symposium was that in some cases lease fees had never been charged.
A response was that the ministry was hamstrung by budgetary shortfalls and in some cases had not been able to survey and value farm units.
Nujoma said one of the matters negatively affected as a result was the programme of land acquisition and infrastructure development.
Nujoma said under the current financial year, infrastructure on some farms would be rehabilitated.
“Therefore, beneficiaries should maintain and rehabilitate their farm infrastructure on their own because taking care of this is very important,” Nujoma said.
He added: “I want to encourage you not to lose hope in this difficult economic situation; the successful implementation of the resettlement programme rests primarily with you.”
He also observed that the process of inheritance of farming units in Oshikoto takes too long to be completed. This is mainly because families of deceased resettlement beneficiaries do not fill in required documents at the ministry that can facilitate the inheritance procedures.
He therefore encouraged beneficiaries to finalise their wills and testaments. However, ministerial officials mentioned that resettlement farms cannot be registered as personal assets of beneficiaries because these farms remain government property, being rented out to the beneficiaries.
Resettlement farmers were also advised to seek loans from Agribank under the post-settlement support services for rehabilitation and improvement of infrastructure.
Nujoma said farmers are not fully utilising this fund.
CATHERINE SASMAN
“Just like full commercial farmers, resettlement farmers are expected to contribute to the country's agricultural economy,” was Nujoma's advice.
Nujoma was expected to address farmers at a resettlement farmers' symposium at Farm Tsumore No. 761 adjacent to the Otjikoto Lake, but failed to show up due to ill health.
His speech was delivered by Oshikoto governor Henock Kankoshi.
The symposium, a yearly event, provides an opportunity for resettled farmers to share the successes and failures of their agricultural ventures.
According to the directorate of land reform and resettlement, adherence to carrying capacity and land use on farm units, as well as the recurring problem of sub-leasing, is poor.
Nujoma said these matters were continuously monitored and cases of illegal sub-leasing, illegal occupations and non-adherence to the carrying capacity of the land were recorded.
One of the matters that emerged at the symposium was that in some cases lease fees had never been charged.
A response was that the ministry was hamstrung by budgetary shortfalls and in some cases had not been able to survey and value farm units.
Nujoma said one of the matters negatively affected as a result was the programme of land acquisition and infrastructure development.
Nujoma said under the current financial year, infrastructure on some farms would be rehabilitated.
“Therefore, beneficiaries should maintain and rehabilitate their farm infrastructure on their own because taking care of this is very important,” Nujoma said.
He added: “I want to encourage you not to lose hope in this difficult economic situation; the successful implementation of the resettlement programme rests primarily with you.”
He also observed that the process of inheritance of farming units in Oshikoto takes too long to be completed. This is mainly because families of deceased resettlement beneficiaries do not fill in required documents at the ministry that can facilitate the inheritance procedures.
He therefore encouraged beneficiaries to finalise their wills and testaments. However, ministerial officials mentioned that resettlement farms cannot be registered as personal assets of beneficiaries because these farms remain government property, being rented out to the beneficiaries.
Resettlement farmers were also advised to seek loans from Agribank under the post-settlement support services for rehabilitation and improvement of infrastructure.
Nujoma said farmers are not fully utilising this fund.
CATHERINE SASMAN
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