FORTY-THREE more farms are expected to benefit from Government’s Wildlife Breeding Stock Loan Scheme this year, bringing the total number of beneficiaries up from 11 to 54.
The scheme specifically targets formerly disadvantaged Namibians who are coming into the game-farming market, and ‘includes the re-introduction of economically valuable species such as black rhinos, black-faced impalas, roan, sable and other species’ onto such farms.
The programme, which is meant to complement other forms of land use, forms part of the Protection and Management of Key Species and Natural Resources programme, which is set to receive an allocation of N$30,65 million under the Ministry of Environment and Tourism’s budget allocation of N$305,6 million this financial year.
Motivating the allocation, Environment and Tourism Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah pointed to this scheme as one of several areas in her ministry’s budget that will promote environment and tourism among formerly disadvantaged people and communities.
Other areas in this line include a N$24,2 million allocation for the Community-Based Natural Resource Management and Tourism programme, under which the Ministry plans to ‘strengthen the conservancy system on communal lands and other community-based programmes by improving the natural resource base for economic development’.
Through this programme, Nandi-Ndaitwah said, ‘management of natural resources will bring about enterprise development, thus enhancing job creation and improved livelihood’.
Community-based tourism will also feature strongly in the ministry’s Tourism Development Programme, for which close to N$49 million is allocated.
‘There is a great need to accelerate broad-based black economic empowerment. The Tourism Development Programme will promote and support community-based tourism,’ the Minister said, adding that N$500 000 would be allocated specifically for community-based tourism.
‘The Tourism Industry Transformation Charter sets the platform for these enterprises to succeed, and all efforts need to be made to assist with its implementation. Monitoring and skills transfer are important components of this Charter.’
She noted that the implementation of this, along with the operation of the Namibia Tourism Board, Namibia Wildlife Resorts, gaming and lotteries, would be guided by the National Policy on Tourism approved by Cabinet in the last financial year.
nangula@namibian.com.na
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