Sustainable use of biomass strengthened
Germany has donated more than N$2 million in vehicles and equipment to the agriculture ministry and the University of Namibia (Unam) in an effort to strengthen the sustainable use of biomass.
The donation included three vehicles for the monitoring and law-enforcement capacities of the forestry directorate in selected priority regions. In these regions, which are the most severely affected by bush encroachment, the forestry directorate offices have been equipped with computers and stationery. This equipment support enables the directorate to effectively implement an ongoing re-engineering process, which includes the digitalisation of its service delivery.
According to a media statement, the directorate of forestry will increasingly rely on satellite images and aerial photos for farm inspections and will pilot a digital system for harvesting permit applications. This is meant to reduce the cost and turnaround time of the directorate's permitting process and increase its reliability and efficiency.
The Unam department of animal science also received a laboratory incubator for analyses of animal fodder samples. The statement said due to the continuing drought, hundreds of farmers resorted to producing bush-based emergency fodder in 2019. “Dedicated laboratory capacities will help to improve the quality of the respective feed mixtures. In the same vein, the directorate of agricultural research and development is also set to receive laboratory equipment.”
This directorate already offers testing of biomass samples to the public and will strengthen this services with the new analytical equipment. “Namibia and Germany enjoy a long-standing history of cooperation. This handover affirms the mutual dedication to address developmental challenges, stimulating sustainable and equitable growth, creating jobs and providing equal opportunities, said German ambassador Herbert Beck.
He said Germany has supported the agriculture ministry through various programmes including in the areas of conservation agriculture, agricultural advisory and rangeland management. “Recently, the German government has especially strengthened its efforts to foster the drought resilience of the Namibian population. In this context, the utilisation of bush biomass, for example for bush-based animal fodder, plays a vital role.” Dr Thomas Kirsch, the country director of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Namibia, said more than 30 million hectares of rangeland is affected by bush encroachment in Namibia, which is more than two-thirds of the country. He however said that bush is no longer seen as a problem, but as an opportunity.
“The sustainable use of bush biomass creates economic potential along various biomass value chains. Today, thanks to professional industry structures, and accelerated by the ongoing drought, the biomass utilisation sector employs some 10 000 workers.”
The agriculture ministry's acting executive director and director of forestry Joseph Hailwa said the donated equipment will support two priority areas – law-enforcement and the monitoring of bush-harvesting operations. This is part of the forestry directorate's mandate to effectively regulate forest resource utilisation, he said. The vehicles will be used to carry out timely farm and site inspection where harvesting and processing of bush biomass is done to ensure correct procedures are followed.
ELLANIE SMIT
The donation included three vehicles for the monitoring and law-enforcement capacities of the forestry directorate in selected priority regions. In these regions, which are the most severely affected by bush encroachment, the forestry directorate offices have been equipped with computers and stationery. This equipment support enables the directorate to effectively implement an ongoing re-engineering process, which includes the digitalisation of its service delivery.
According to a media statement, the directorate of forestry will increasingly rely on satellite images and aerial photos for farm inspections and will pilot a digital system for harvesting permit applications. This is meant to reduce the cost and turnaround time of the directorate's permitting process and increase its reliability and efficiency.
The Unam department of animal science also received a laboratory incubator for analyses of animal fodder samples. The statement said due to the continuing drought, hundreds of farmers resorted to producing bush-based emergency fodder in 2019. “Dedicated laboratory capacities will help to improve the quality of the respective feed mixtures. In the same vein, the directorate of agricultural research and development is also set to receive laboratory equipment.”
This directorate already offers testing of biomass samples to the public and will strengthen this services with the new analytical equipment. “Namibia and Germany enjoy a long-standing history of cooperation. This handover affirms the mutual dedication to address developmental challenges, stimulating sustainable and equitable growth, creating jobs and providing equal opportunities, said German ambassador Herbert Beck.
He said Germany has supported the agriculture ministry through various programmes including in the areas of conservation agriculture, agricultural advisory and rangeland management. “Recently, the German government has especially strengthened its efforts to foster the drought resilience of the Namibian population. In this context, the utilisation of bush biomass, for example for bush-based animal fodder, plays a vital role.” Dr Thomas Kirsch, the country director of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Namibia, said more than 30 million hectares of rangeland is affected by bush encroachment in Namibia, which is more than two-thirds of the country. He however said that bush is no longer seen as a problem, but as an opportunity.
“The sustainable use of bush biomass creates economic potential along various biomass value chains. Today, thanks to professional industry structures, and accelerated by the ongoing drought, the biomass utilisation sector employs some 10 000 workers.”
The agriculture ministry's acting executive director and director of forestry Joseph Hailwa said the donated equipment will support two priority areas – law-enforcement and the monitoring of bush-harvesting operations. This is part of the forestry directorate's mandate to effectively regulate forest resource utilisation, he said. The vehicles will be used to carry out timely farm and site inspection where harvesting and processing of bush biomass is done to ensure correct procedures are followed.
ELLANIE SMIT
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