The money is needed to ensure maximum utilisation of this land, a recent public hearing of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics, Natural Resources and Public Administration at Keetmanshoop heard.

Chief Dawid Frederick of the !Aman clan in the Bethani‰n district told the hearing that a lack of management skills has contributed to failures and the ineffective running of some farming enterprises.

"I call on the Government to provide training in management and other skills to help us become successful farmers," said Chief Frederick.

The public hearing was held to allow commercial and communal farmers an opportunity to tell of their personal experiences of the loan scheme.

The gathering was chaired by Swapo parliamentarian Raphael Dinyando, who was assisted by the DTA's Johan de Waal.

Their observations will be included in a report to the standing committee, which will consider possible revisions to the scheme.

Farmers from all over Namibia, who are part of the scheme, have expressed concerns over the conditions, qualifying criteria and repayment period of the loans.

Karas Small Farmers' Union Secretary, Alloys Boois, called for the introduction of a flat interest rate for the full loan period.

Interest rates currently range from two per cent up to 14 per cent over a 10-year period.

"I also call on the Government to extend the repayment of the first interest payment from three to five years".

Based on Government's policy on land reform, which is aimed at redressing imbalances in land ownership, Dinyando said he anticipated that more communal farmers will develop into commercial farmers through the scheme.

- Southern Sun

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