The importance of keeping rainfall records

The importance of keeping rainfall records

By Hanks Saisai, Technical Advisor: Crops & Poultry Namibia’s Central, North Central, Eastern, Southern, and North-Eastern regions received some rain showers marking the beginning of the 2023/2024 rainy season. Oftentimes, farmers get excited and carried away by the occurrence of rainfall as it is an essential resource that enables farmers to cultivate cereal grains like maize, pearl millet (mahangu) and sorghum. Additionally, rainfall replenishes vegetation (grasses, shrubs, forbs, and bushes) […]

December 4, 2023 19

Business / Economics

Namibia Grape Company partners with Capespan for exports

Namibia has commissioned the export of its first-ever shipment of homegrown table grapes to European countries through the port of Walvis Bay on Wednesday. According to the Namibia Press Agency, the 250-container consignment from Aussenkehr was made possible through a partnership between Namibia Grape Company, a National Youth Service subsidiary, and Capespan. Minister of Youth and Sports Agnes Tjongarero referred to the deal as a significant milestone for economic growth […]

November 30, 2023 56

Africa

Zimbabwe emerges as global leader in blueberry exports

In a noteworthy development, Zimbabwe is making strides in reclaiming its status as Africa's breadbasket, with a recent report by East Fruit Analyst highlighting a remarkable increase in blueberry exports. Contrary to prevailing challenges, this positive trend shows a potential economic turnaround for the country. According to the East Fruit Analyst report, Zimbabwe has outpaced global competitors in blueberry exports, experiencing an impressive 63% annual growth over the past five […]

November 28, 2023 19

Namibia

Schlettwein wants improved agricultural practices for Green Schemes

Following a tour of the B2Gold Mine’s Agricultural farm in the Otjozondjupa region, the Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform Calle Schlettwein suggested integrating the farm's production practices into Government Green Schemes for an increased yield.

November 23, 2023 25

Environment

A Basic understanding of farm enterprise diversification

By Erastus Ngaruka, Technical Advisor: Livestock Agricultural production involves growing crops and rearing livestock, in order to produce a range of commodities or end-products. Farm enterprise diversification is simply the practice of producing a range of commodities as opposed to a single commodity on farmland. Diversification constitutes the process of allocating farm resources or the factors of production land, labor and capital) to different enterprises. This process identifies valuable or […]

November 22, 2023 24

Africa

UN declares 2023 as International Year of Millet

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millet/Mahangu, with the aim of increasing public awareness of the health benefits of millets and their suitability for cultivation under tough conditions marked by climate change. Here is the Deputy Executive Director in the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, Sabine Böhlke-Möller.

November 21, 2023 23

Africa

Climate change and farming: economists warn more needs to be done to adapt in sub-Saharan Africa

Abeeb Babatunde Omotoso, North-West University and Abiodun Olusola Omotayo, North-West University Sub-Saharan African countries strongly rely on the agricultural and forestry sectors. Agriculture contributes up to 60% of some countries’ gross domestic product. But the sector is highly vulnerable to climate change because it relies heavily on climatic factors. This vulnerability is particularly marked in the region because of its slow rate of technological advancement. As agricultural economists we carried […]

November 17, 2023 23

Environment

The Basics of Fruit Tree Production

By Hanks Saisai, Technical Advisor: Crops & Poultry Growing fruit trees can be a very rewarding business venture; however, it requires farmers to possess essential knowledge and understanding to profitably grow trees of high value. Farmers need to understand that growing fruit trees requires knowledge of basic land preparation, seedling purchase and caring for the trees until they reach maturity. Namibia‘s semi-arid environment offers an opportune environment for fruit tree […]

November 17, 2023 15

Environment

An Overview: Impact of rural urban migration on agriculture

By: Erastus Ngaruka, Technical Advisor: Livestock and Rangeland Management Rural-urban migration refers to the movement of people from rural to urban areas, or simply from villages to towns or cities. This migration is triggered by several socioeconomic factors, such as employment, business, education, and health, among others. In Namibia, the phenomenon is particularly conspicuous, as evidenced by the influx of people from rural to urban areas in recent years in […]

November 15, 2023 12