‘Disappearing’ cattle at Kavango ranch raise concerns
Farmer bemoans lack of market
Under the Kavango Cattle Ranch's new management, employees now have to travel long distances to access basic necessities, Singambwe said.
Councillors in the Kavango West Region have expressed serious concerns regarding the mismanagement of the state-owned Kavango Cattle Ranch, where livestock is reportedly 'lost'.
During a recent meeting with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics and Public Administration, Tondoro constituency councillor Joseph Sikongo pointed out that cattle disappear, with employees unable to track their whereabouts.
“What the hell is that? What witchcraft is that? This farm is like a mine. But how the mine is being run in front of us is not our wish. Our hands are tied because we are not part of the system. When the minister instituted the board, the minister was supposed to include the traditional authority and regional council because that's where the land belongs,” he said.
Kavango West Regional Council human resources director Matheus Singambwe bemoaned that under the new management, employees at the ranch now have to travel long distances to access basic necessities.
“Previously, there was a shop managed by the employees themselves, which provided easy access to essential food items without the need for extensive travel. Now, for just 10 kilograms of maize meal, workers need to find transportation to the nearest town, whether it be Grootfontein, Tsumeb, or the furthest, Rundu,” he said.
‘Not feasible’
Meanwhile, Olavi Mahina, a farmer from Kavango East, highlighted the need for a formal and sustainable livestock market that offers continuous marketing opportunities - from production to sale.
“We are putting forward to the committee that the challenge we face is the lack of proper, continuous and sustainable marketing. We need them to present this issue to Parliament. For example, if I am a farmer, I need to sustain my business through farming. This means I must market my livestock, sell it and get paid so I can service any loans with Agribank, pay my employees and reinvest in my farm,” he said.
“However, in Kavango West, there is no proper market to encourage farmers to take loans from commercial institutions or banks like Agribank. Without a reliable market, farmers can't sustain their farms," Mahina said.
He added that there is a need for a compartment north of the veterinary cordon fence, also known as the ‘red line’.
“A feasibility study has already been conducted on this matter. We need to implement it by bringing the cordon fence to a level that covers semi-commercial farms. This would allow people to market their livestock south of the cordon fence, boosting the region's economy. Currently, livestock production exists, but sustaining a business solely on livestock is not feasible,” he said.
During a recent meeting with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics and Public Administration, Tondoro constituency councillor Joseph Sikongo pointed out that cattle disappear, with employees unable to track their whereabouts.
“What the hell is that? What witchcraft is that? This farm is like a mine. But how the mine is being run in front of us is not our wish. Our hands are tied because we are not part of the system. When the minister instituted the board, the minister was supposed to include the traditional authority and regional council because that's where the land belongs,” he said.
Kavango West Regional Council human resources director Matheus Singambwe bemoaned that under the new management, employees at the ranch now have to travel long distances to access basic necessities.
“Previously, there was a shop managed by the employees themselves, which provided easy access to essential food items without the need for extensive travel. Now, for just 10 kilograms of maize meal, workers need to find transportation to the nearest town, whether it be Grootfontein, Tsumeb, or the furthest, Rundu,” he said.
‘Not feasible’
Meanwhile, Olavi Mahina, a farmer from Kavango East, highlighted the need for a formal and sustainable livestock market that offers continuous marketing opportunities - from production to sale.
“We are putting forward to the committee that the challenge we face is the lack of proper, continuous and sustainable marketing. We need them to present this issue to Parliament. For example, if I am a farmer, I need to sustain my business through farming. This means I must market my livestock, sell it and get paid so I can service any loans with Agribank, pay my employees and reinvest in my farm,” he said.
“However, in Kavango West, there is no proper market to encourage farmers to take loans from commercial institutions or banks like Agribank. Without a reliable market, farmers can't sustain their farms," Mahina said.
He added that there is a need for a compartment north of the veterinary cordon fence, also known as the ‘red line’.
“A feasibility study has already been conducted on this matter. We need to implement it by bringing the cordon fence to a level that covers semi-commercial farms. This would allow people to market their livestock south of the cordon fence, boosting the region's economy. Currently, livestock production exists, but sustaining a business solely on livestock is not feasible,” he said.
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