Clarify land reform: Hangala

MORE emphasis needs to placed on agriculture, as its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been declining in the last recent years, a prominent Namibian has said.

Speaking at the opening of the Grootfontein Agricultural Show earlier this week, Dr Leake Hangala, who was the guest of honour at the event, said Namibia should improve its farming activities to boost this vital sector which is the country’s biggest employer. Hangala, who is the senior Vice President of Telecom Management Partner (TMP), said the decrease in levels of investment by local farmers was due to the uncertainty surrounding the future of land ownership, among other things.He called for clarity on the land-reform issue.”There is, therefore, a great need for all stakeholders to remove this uncertainty amongst the local farmers by addressing concerns related to the land-reform programme,” he told the gathering.Hangala also said new players interested in agriculture should be encouraged to take up farming seriously.He said with improved methods, Namibia had the potential to reduce its food imports and increase domestic food production.The sector, according to Hangala, could also create opportunities for those who want to venture into farming.Hangala also urged stakeholders in the sector to assist subsistence farmers in accessing finance, so as to encourage more production.”A great quantity of our food is produced in communal lands but the production capacity of this vast land has been diminishing over the years.It is therefore, critically important that we put measures in place aimed at improving the production capacity of our communal land.”Hangala also said it was high time farm labourers were treated fairly for the work they do.He applauded the show, saying agricultural shows were the best platforms for farmers to showcase their products and test the market by comparing with their peers, both local and foreign.The Grootfontein Agricultural show is an annual event that showcases agricultural products, banking services, clothing, cosmetic and medical services and many others.Hangala, who is the senior Vice President of Telecom Management Partner (TMP), said the decrease in levels of investment by local farmers was due to the uncertainty surrounding the future of land ownership, among other things.He called for clarity on the land-reform issue.”There is, therefore, a great need for all stakeholders to remove this uncertainty amongst the local farmers by addressing concerns related to the land-reform programme,” he told the gathering.Hangala also said new players interested in agriculture should be encouraged to take up farming seriously.He said with improved methods, Namibia had the potential to reduce its food imports and increase domestic food production.The sector, according to Hangala, could also create opportunities for those who want to venture into farming.Hangala also urged stakeholders in the sector to assist subsistence farmers in accessing finance, so as to encourage more production.”A great quantity of our food is produced in communal lands but the production capacity of this vast land has been diminishing over the years.It is therefore, critically important that we put measures in place aimed at improving the production capacity of our communal land.”Hangala also said it was high time farm labourers were treated fairly for the work they do.He applauded the show, saying agricultural shows were the best platforms for farmers to showcase their products and test the market by comparing with their peers, both local and foreign.The Grootfontein Agricultural show is an annual event that showcases agricultural products, banking services, clothing, cosmetic and medical services and many others.