VP attends Oshipe festival
At the annual harvest festival held at Onamundindi village in Ogongo constituency, subsistence farmers were lauded for their hard work and abundant harvest.
Launched early this year by President Hage Geingob, Operation Tulongeni which was aimed at encouraging farmers to start working their fields following good rains, was hailed at this year's annual harvest festival.
The annual harvest festival known as Oshipe, an Oshiwambo word meaning 'new', is the festival held in honour of harvesting, the cooking of traditional food for first consumption and it is also a thanksgiving to the ancestors.
The event took place at the residence of Mateus Iilonga at Onamundindi village in Ogongo constituency which is the same venue where Geingob launched 'Operation Tulongeni'.
Tulongeni means 'let's work'.
Speaking at the Oshipe Festival, the vice-president, Nickey Iyambo, said that following this year's good rains, farmers in the Omusati Region experienced a bumper harvest which is the result of Operation Tulongeni.
“I am happy to see that the bumper agricultural produce harvested this year, which you are showcasing ,is tangible proof that all of you have successfully heeded the call of war against poverty by President Geingob. It is therefore pleasing to know we are here enjoying the fruits of your hard work,” Iyambo said.
On the history of Oshipe Festival, Iyambo said it was introduced by the ancestors to give thanks to God for blessing the farmers' fields by giving them a good harvest, a tradition which has been enshrined for many decades in northern Namibia.
He explained that Operation Tulongeni is just a facilitator from the government's side that is used to encourage farmers to work hard to ensure food security in the country.
Iyambo said 70% of Namibia's population depends on the agricultural sector for their livelihoods saying that it is also the sector creating a lot of employment and contributing to the country's economy.
Iyambo also talked about the agriculture ministry's Dry Land Crop Production Programme (DCPP) launched in 2008, which provides subsidised farm inputs and services to farmers in the crop-growing regions.
He said farmers now benefit from DCPP which over the past two years saw N$20 million budgeted as government tractors have been deployed in the regions making ploughing cheaper for farmers.
Omusati governor Erginus Endjala thanked the farmers for responding to the call of working hard in their fields saying that they should remain consistent and keep on doing so after good rains have been experienced.
Endjala also used the opportunity to inform government that farmers in the various constituencies as a result of the bumper harvest decided to give back to government by donating some of their harvested products to the government silos.
KENYA KAMBOWE
The annual harvest festival known as Oshipe, an Oshiwambo word meaning 'new', is the festival held in honour of harvesting, the cooking of traditional food for first consumption and it is also a thanksgiving to the ancestors.
The event took place at the residence of Mateus Iilonga at Onamundindi village in Ogongo constituency which is the same venue where Geingob launched 'Operation Tulongeni'.
Tulongeni means 'let's work'.
Speaking at the Oshipe Festival, the vice-president, Nickey Iyambo, said that following this year's good rains, farmers in the Omusati Region experienced a bumper harvest which is the result of Operation Tulongeni.
“I am happy to see that the bumper agricultural produce harvested this year, which you are showcasing ,is tangible proof that all of you have successfully heeded the call of war against poverty by President Geingob. It is therefore pleasing to know we are here enjoying the fruits of your hard work,” Iyambo said.
On the history of Oshipe Festival, Iyambo said it was introduced by the ancestors to give thanks to God for blessing the farmers' fields by giving them a good harvest, a tradition which has been enshrined for many decades in northern Namibia.
He explained that Operation Tulongeni is just a facilitator from the government's side that is used to encourage farmers to work hard to ensure food security in the country.
Iyambo said 70% of Namibia's population depends on the agricultural sector for their livelihoods saying that it is also the sector creating a lot of employment and contributing to the country's economy.
Iyambo also talked about the agriculture ministry's Dry Land Crop Production Programme (DCPP) launched in 2008, which provides subsidised farm inputs and services to farmers in the crop-growing regions.
He said farmers now benefit from DCPP which over the past two years saw N$20 million budgeted as government tractors have been deployed in the regions making ploughing cheaper for farmers.
Omusati governor Erginus Endjala thanked the farmers for responding to the call of working hard in their fields saying that they should remain consistent and keep on doing so after good rains have been experienced.
Endjala also used the opportunity to inform government that farmers in the various constituencies as a result of the bumper harvest decided to give back to government by donating some of their harvested products to the government silos.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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