Champion mahangu farmer crowned

ONGWEDIVA – The Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF) witnessed the crowning of Theodor Shambalula, from the Omusati Region, as the 2005 Mahangu National Champion on Tuesday.

Agriculture, Water and Forestry Minister Dr Nickey Iyambo was also at the OATF centre to crown Shambalula and to hand over prizes to five runners-up from the Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshikoto, Kavango and Caprivi regions. Shambalula was crowned the 2005 Champion Mahangu Farmer in the six northern regions for producing mahangu grain beyond his normal production with a view of household consumption, food security and surpluses for marketing.As the national champion, Shambalula received a rotating trophy, a certificate, a one-ton-capacity mahangu silo made by the Rural Development Centre (RDC) at Ongwediva, a plough, yoke, chains, harnesses, a hoe, seed and N$610.The five runners-up were Erika Johannes (Oshikoto), Lukas Keendjele (Oshana), Joseph Johannes (Ohangwena) Christine Kasuka (Caprivi) and Erastus Haukwambi (Kavango).Each of these five runners-up received a half-ton mahangu silo, a certificate, a plough, yoke, chains, harnesses, a hoe, seed and N$610.The Mahangu Marketing Intelligence Unit (MMIU), a unit set up by the Ministry of Agriculture in 1996, organises the Champion Mahangu Farmers Prizes Giving Event each year.The principal functions of the MMIU are to promote the marketing of mahangu grain and flour and to promote the emerging mahangu-milling industry.-NampaShambalula was crowned the 2005 Champion Mahangu Farmer in the six northern regions for producing mahangu grain beyond his normal production with a view of household consumption, food security and surpluses for marketing.As the national champion, Shambalula received a rotating trophy, a certificate, a one-ton-capacity mahangu silo made by the Rural Development Centre (RDC) at Ongwediva, a plough, yoke, chains, harnesses, a hoe, seed and N$610.The five runners-up were Erika Johannes (Oshikoto), Lukas Keendjele (Oshana), Joseph Johannes (Ohangwena) Christine Kasuka (Caprivi) and Erastus Haukwambi (Kavango).Each of these five runners-up received a half-ton mahangu silo, a certificate, a plough, yoke, chains, harnesses, a hoe, seed and N$610.The Mahangu Marketing Intelligence Unit (MMIU), a unit set up by the Ministry of Agriculture in 1996, organises the Champion Mahangu Farmers Prizes Giving Event each year.The principal functions of the MMIU are to promote the marketing of mahangu grain and flour and to promote the emerging mahangu-milling industry.-Nampa