Windhoek: Kavango West Cattle Ranch has announced farm development projects valued at approximately N.dollars 5.8 million for the 2026/27 financial year, with a focus on breeding stock, fodder production, water infrastructure, and fire protection. Walter Sirongo, the ranch manager, shared these plans during an interview.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Sirongo emphasized that the primary objective is to enhance the herd and boost market output. The ranch aims to improve the breeding stock and increase annual throughput from 1,500 to 3,000 cattle, with a monthly scale-up plan of 1,000 cattle. The farm's herd is expected to grow from 6,300 to at least 8,000 head, excluding Mangetti West.

A significant portion of the budget is allocated to the livestock itself. Approximately N.dollars 2.5 million is designated for acquiring 50 breeding bulls, and N.dollars 1.8 million for 100 breeding heifers to enhance the genetic quality of the herd. For feed security, the ranch plans to increase land under fodder production from 32 hectares to at least 500 hectares, with a budget of N.dollars 1 million.

Fire prevention is a priority, with N.dollars 500,000 allocated for maintaining firebreaks to protect grazing areas from veld fires. On the infrastructure front, an 80 cubic metre water tower, carried over from the previous financial year and costing about N.dollars 2 million, is under construction. The ranch also plans to expand its quarantining facility, known as the paradigm camp, by an additional 1,000 hectares for cattle preparation before they are sent to the central abattoir.

Sirongo added that the farm intends to construct exclusion camps and electrify elephant exclusion zones to prevent production stock from mixing with wildlife, while providing dedicated water points for elephants to minimize fence damage and other disruptions. The farm is also exploring wildlife tourism opportunities.