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Agriculture research must assist farmers
THE Agricultural Scientific Society of Namibia (Agrisson) opened its 13th Congress at Oshakati yesterday under the theme ‘Climate Change and Food Security Challenges in Sub-Sahara Africa’.
Speaking at the two-day congress’s opening ceremony at the Oshakati Country Hotel, Chairman of the Congress, Professor Luke Kanyomeka, said the aim of the gathering was to share and discuss the most topical issues in the agricultural field.
In his address, Minister of Agriculture, John Mutorwa, said the congress should serve as a platform to inform farmers, both commercial and communal, and other agricultural producers about new developments, innovations, technologies, opportunities and threats in the sector.
“The truth is that the work that Agrisson is doing must find practical applicability, meaning and relevance with what the farmers are doing. That the research findings must thus assist the farmers to improve their production, their lives and surely the socio-economic development and status of our country and all her people,” said Mutorwa.
Referring to the recent floods in the north of the country, Mutorwa said: “We can all see, touch, feel and appreciate the impact of climate change on food production in our country, mainly through droughts, floods, inadequate rains, etc, but the question is, what should research do in this regard? How can research assist the farmers to deal with climate change, but still produce food for the people and the country`s economy?
He concluded by saying that the congress should come up with recommendations which could be implemented by Government.
oswald@namibian.com.na
