Farmers urged to use organic methods

Namibia Organic Association chairperson Mareike Voigts is urging farmers to use organic agriculture methods and biochar for improved production.

Biochar is a charcoal-like substance used primarily to improve soil fertility, retain moisture and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, locking it away for potentially thousands of years.

Unlike compost, biochar does not decompose and can be made from a wide variety of waste materials, offering benefits for soil health and environmental sustainability.

Voigts says organic agriculture methods have the potential to restore infertile soil and improve crop production.

She was speaking during a parliamentary standing committee on natural resources visit to farm Krumhuk near Rehoboth on Friday.

Agreocology and organic agriculture restores soil health, conserve water, and boost biodiversity, an effective mechanism to address drought.

“Biochar binds the nutrients and keeps the water where the roots grow, making it a suitable fertiliser for crops as they can absorb these nutrients,” she said.

Voigts said the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) supports farm Krumhuk as one of many ways to address climate change and food shortages.

Meanwhile, committee member Vetaruhe Kandorozu implored the NNF to raise more awareness of its methods among farmers to improve the agriculture sector.

He proposed that this can be done by going to each household and educating people about organic fertilisers, where each house can produce one tonne to be sold to the line ministry to send to green schemes.

According to Namibian Organic Association consumer representative Temapo Johannes, the association is a membership-based group of dynamic farmers and consumers with the common interest of developing Namibia’s organic sector.

It has assisted about 1 009 farmers to date.

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