Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Calle Schlettwein, has said resettled farmers serve as an empowerment tool when they acquire land, which is a productive asset that enables then to employ others and contribute to socio-economic development objectives.

The minister made these remarks on Thursday at the Rietfontein training centre during the pre-settlement training workshop of newly resettled farmers in the Otjozondjupa, Oshikoto and Kunene regions.

In his statement availed to Nampa, Schlettwein said the resettled farmers are now presented with the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do for the country through productive utilisation of the farming unit allocated them, adding that the issuance of an allotment letter to them places great responsibility on them as commercial farmers.

“You are expected to manage the allotted unit productively and profitably for you as a farmer, your household and employees and for you to ensure the realisation of increasing net-economic gains for the country, contribute to the growth of the country’s economy and Gross Domestic Product, which only occurs if production from your farming unit increases on an annual basis, and contribute to increased national food and nutrition security, as well as increasing earnings,” said Schlettwein.

He also said farmers should diversify farming activities and products through the application of technology and modern farming methods, take prudent stewardship of infrastructure and re-invest in the development of the farm to enhance total productivity and meet their land lease and rental obligations timeously.

“In accordance with the National Resettlement Policy of 2001, all resettled commercial farmers are expected to be self-reliant, on the back of the initial support services and capacity-building such as the training which you have just received. It is in this regard that the ministry in collaboration with Agribank came up with various initiatives earmarked for pre- and post-resettlement support, especially for the newly resettled commercial farmers,” stated Schlettwein.

He further added that since the roll-out of the pre- and post-settlement support programmes, resettled farmers have participated in different flagship sessions including farmer information days, short courses, excursions and mentorship programmes in various farming disciplines. Farmers are encouraged to continue participating in such events to further hone their farming skills.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency