Placido Hilukilwa
THE Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Forestry’s communal land development program has invested over N$181 million in the infrastructure development that serves approximately 490 000 hectares of communal land across seven regions of the country.
Minister Calle Schlettwein revealed this information during the infrastructure handover ceremony to the Amarika Farmers’ Cooperative in the Omusati Region.
The seven beneficiary regions are: Omusati, Ohangwena, Kavango East, Kavango West, Zambezi, Omaheke, and Otjozondjupa.
The infrastructure development included the installation of 74 boreholes, 167 kilometres of water pipelines, 877 kilometres of fencing, and 20 cattle handling facilities.
“The indicated infrastructure benefits farming households in the designated communal areas and provides them the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from the agriculture sector,” said Schlettwein.
The Amarika Farmers’ Cooperative covers an area of 40 000 hectares and has 122 registered members.
According to Schlettwein, Amarika’s N$23.8 million infrastructure development includes a 53-kilometre-long water pipeline, six water points, and 56 kilometres of rangeland fencing to improve livestock management practices.
He expressed hope that the people of Amarika and the neighbouring communities will benefit from these developments.
Program stakeholders include the German government and the European Union, as well as the Ngandjera Traditional Authority that made the land available.
Members of the cooperative expressed their appreciation for what has been done for them but are requesting further government assistance to secure 50 hectares of land in the Etunda Irrigation Scheme for fodder production. This is to address high feed prices at a feedlot they plan to construct in the Uukwandongo village.
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