Farming is the real deal
Damien Iimbili is a part-time communal farmer and founder of the Tsintsabis green farm in the Tsumeb district, who worked his way up from small beginnings.
According to Agribank, his farming journey started in 2018, when he acquired a piece of land in Tsintsabis.
He started farming with ten goats and six cattle and employed only one worker.
After seeing his goats multiplying, he was encouraged and decided to put more effort into his farming business.
He now employs three staff and manages 156 goats and 18 cattle.
Iimbili also cleared ten hectares of his farm where he grows sorghum, maize, groundnuts, cabbages and carrots.
The sorghum and maize that he produces are to feed his livestock. As for the rest of his produce, he sells them on the open market.
Builds character
On character-building, Iimbili said farming has given him a sense of responsibility. He explained that financing his business from his own pocket was one of the challenges he faced when he started.
The part-time farmer had to sell one of his vehicles to finance the start of his farming endeavours. He used the funds to drill a borehole, to clear his land and to buy a few livestock. He said at the start he also lost several goats.
According to him, his best experience was building a network of valuable people to assist him.
“I have various people who help me when it comes to farming. For instance, I have Leon Burger, one of Agribank’s mentors. He gives me great advice. One of the rams that I farm with I bought from him,” he said.
Iimbili advised the youth who wish to pursue farming to do so, as he says farming is the real deal.
Lastly, he added that they should start small and work their way up.
According to Agribank, his farming journey started in 2018, when he acquired a piece of land in Tsintsabis.
He started farming with ten goats and six cattle and employed only one worker.
After seeing his goats multiplying, he was encouraged and decided to put more effort into his farming business.
He now employs three staff and manages 156 goats and 18 cattle.
Iimbili also cleared ten hectares of his farm where he grows sorghum, maize, groundnuts, cabbages and carrots.
The sorghum and maize that he produces are to feed his livestock. As for the rest of his produce, he sells them on the open market.
Builds character
On character-building, Iimbili said farming has given him a sense of responsibility. He explained that financing his business from his own pocket was one of the challenges he faced when he started.
The part-time farmer had to sell one of his vehicles to finance the start of his farming endeavours. He used the funds to drill a borehole, to clear his land and to buy a few livestock. He said at the start he also lost several goats.
According to him, his best experience was building a network of valuable people to assist him.
“I have various people who help me when it comes to farming. For instance, I have Leon Burger, one of Agribank’s mentors. He gives me great advice. One of the rams that I farm with I bought from him,” he said.
Iimbili advised the youth who wish to pursue farming to do so, as he says farming is the real deal.
Lastly, he added that they should start small and work their way up.
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Namibian Sun
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