[Why can’t they just accept that Whites are generally – better farmers – and be happy that they are contributing to the economy? No… they prefer the jealous approach… Jan]

Agricultural experts have expressed concern about emerging and newly resettled farmers who obtain loans from AgriBank for the purpose of land acquisition for farming but who dismally fail to manage their acquisitions due to a lack of expertise.

Another reason many of the farms are being run into non-productive entities is that some of the beneficiaries merely buy farms as a symbol of prestige and have no clue what agriculture entails, having only rudimentary farming skills.

Growing fears are that the prevailing situation could ultimately lead to serious repercussions like the repossession of land by AgriBank, as farmers are unable to repay their loans.

Therefore, with Prime Minister Nahas Angula’s recent statements regarding worrying low and dwindling levels of productivity in the agricultural sector, there is an urgent need to train emerging and Affirmative Action Farmers (AAFs) on how to manage their land in a more sustainable and efficient manner.

It is against this background that Agrifutura, in supporting the government’s land redistribution program-me, has been conducting agricultural training courses for both newly resettled and emerging commercial farmers.

During the course of last week fifteen farmers from Windhoek and nearby surrounding areas underwent training in modern farming techniques.

At the training prominent government officials, like the Minister of Education Nangolo Mbumba, and Trade and Industry Minister, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, were also present in their personal capacities as upcoming commercial farmers, while the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AgriBank Leonard Ipumbu outlined the activities of the bank.

Qualified agriculture lecturers, experienced farmers and veterinarians were brought in to inform farmers about various issues concerning livestock management, finances and administration, livestock marketing and animal health.

In an interview with New Era, the Managing Director of Agrifutura, Adolf de Klerk, said that training is a vital part of the land redistribution process by the government and it should therefore go hand in hand with this process.

“I fear that resettlement without training may have dire consequences, because farmers not only lack the money to manage their land, but lack the knowledge,” said the top Agrifutura official.

In most cases newly resettled farmers do not have the necessary modern skills and knowledge to operate their farm land and as a result they cannot make any profits to repay the loans to AgriBank, leading to repossessions. Ultimately, he said, the whole land redistribution programme could collapse if it does not go parallel with training newly resettled farmers.

“Before a title deed is granted farmers should also be trained in some aspects of farming, in order to ensure that land is used productively,” said De Klerk.

At last week’s high-level Forum on Employment Creation the Prime Minister reflected on the weakening production in the agriculture sector from 36,6 percent of the total workforce in 1997 to 29,3 percent in the year 2000.

However, to increase productivity, training courses like the one held by Agrifutura falls into the bigger picture in ensuring that agriculture still remains one of the mainstays of the economy. “It has always been our standpoint that every institution involved in agriculture in Namibia should contribute to make farmer training on a much bigger scale possible, if we want to avoid our country’s agriculture and job creation on farms from degenerating because of a lack of modern day knowledge of farming,” stressed the co-director of Agrifutura, Colin Usurua.

Good farming practices could therefore lead to farmers generating enough revenue to repay AgriBank loans and ultimately improve their living standards.

Echoing similar sentiments Ipumbu, the chief executive officer of AgriBank, told New Era that it would be beneficial for farmers to have a certificate of training in modern day farming, before the bank forwards any loans. Although this arrangement is not a pre-requisite, it will ultimately only make it easier for both the farmer and the bank to enhance productivity.

Until October last year AgriBank granted 646 Affirmative Action Loans (AALs). Full-time farmers were recorded at 361 while 185 part-time farmers also acquired loans. “Land without production is useless. If you start to buy a farm think about the consequences, because those who do not pay back their loans are jeopardising the issue of land reform,” said the CEO of AgriBank.

He added that farmers should therefore empower themselves through training to lead productive lives.

Encouragement was also given to farmers to familiarise themselves with the various products of AgriBank.

These include infrastructural loans for commercial farmers to protect their accumulated assets and a livestock loan to rebuild existing stock, where up to N$50,000 is granted for a one-unit house for workers.

Such a unit will consist of two rooms, a kitchen and bathroom with running water, and a farm owner repays at a minimal rate of 4 percent per annum.

“The reason why the rate is so low is because farm workers need to be treated decently with bearable living conditions,” added Ipumbu.

Other loans also include those for preventing bush encroachment for commercial areas, where repayment is over a 15-year period.

Through a short-term seasonal or production loan to buy seeds, fertiliser and pesticides for both communal and commercial farmers and which falls under the National Agricultural Credit Programme (NCAP) set up in 1995, beneficiaries can add value to the land through acquiring infrastructure like fencing materials, drilling of boreholes and hammer mills.

In a nutshell, AgriBank’s interest lies in the vision that farmers are able to afford the loans and ensure the farmland is sustained productively to alleviate poverty and promote job-creation nationally.

Source: AllAfrica.Com
URL: http://allafrica.com/stories/200507200642.htm…/p>