43 farmers relocated for Green Scheme project

A GROUP of 43 small-scale farmers in the Kapako Constituency of the Kavango Region will be relocated to make way for the development of an agricultural project in that area.

The Sikondo Agricultural Project is 20 kilometres west of Rundu, will cover about 800 hectares, and is part of Government’s Green Scheme Project that strives to attain food security. The Secretary of the Mbunza Traditional Authority, Mukoya Dagobert, informed Nampa on Friday that of the 43 affected farmers, 21 are from Kayira Yira village, while the remaining 22 are from Mupini village.Dagobert said the number of small-scale farmers affected by the envisaged project is expected to increase, because there are still some farmers who are yet to register their names.The farmers will be relocated because their crop fields or households are within the demarcated area of the envisioned agricultural project.Agricultural, Water and Forestry Minister John Mutorwa, who visited the project site on Friday, disclosed that about N$1,5 million has been allocated to compensate the affected farmers.”A feasibility study found that there was quality and fertile soil in the area, giving the green light for the development of the project,” Mutorwa said.”The clearing of bushes and demarcation of the whole area will start this year and a water pump station will be constructed.”There are currently five Green Scheme agricultural projects in the Kavango Region, at Shadikongoro, Shitemo, Mashare, Uvhungu-Vungu and Musese.The project was initially supposed to start in 2004, after the leader of the Mbunza Traditional Authority, Chief Alfons Kaundu, gave about 800 hectares of land to Government for this purpose.According to Mutorwa, the delay was caused by a feasibility study to determine the quality of the soil and the project’s viability.NampaThe Secretary of the Mbunza Traditional Authority, Mukoya Dagobert, informed Nampa on Friday that of the 43 affected farmers, 21 are from Kayira Yira village, while the remaining 22 are from Mupini village.Dagobert said the number of small-scale farmers affected by the envisaged project is expected to increase, because there are still some farmers who are yet to register their names.The farmers will be relocated because their crop fields or households are within the demarcated area of the envisioned agricultural project.Agricultural, Water and Forestry Minister John Mutorwa, who visited the project site on Friday, disclosed that about N$1,5 million has been allocated to compensate the affected farmers.”A feasibility study found that there was quality and fertile soil in the area, giving the green light for the development of the project,” Mutorwa said.”The clearing of bushes and demarcation of the whole area will start this year and a water pump station will be constructed.”There are currently five Green Scheme agricultural projects in the Kavango Region, at Shadikongoro, Shitemo, Mashare, Uvhungu-Vungu and Musese.The project was initially supposed to start in 2004, after the leader of the Mbunza Traditional Authority, Chief Alfons Kaundu, gave about 800 hectares of land to Government for this purpose.According to Mutorwa, the delay was caused by a feasibility study to determine the quality of the soil and the project’s viability.Nampa