Karas promotes small-scale agric production

KEETMANSHOOP -The Karas Regional Council is geared towards promoting small-scale agricultural farming in the southern region for socio-economic development.

However, the regional authority is of the opinion that small-scale agricultural development has been hampered in the region due to the low rainfall and lack of irrigation water for crops, pasture and fish production. The council has now submitted a proposal to the National Planning Commission to benefit from the Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC) financial assistance to be provided by the US government.In a presentation held here on Monday with delegates from the Millennium Challenge Account Namibian Office, the Regional Coordinator on Food Security and Nutrition Programme for Karas, Mark Mulenga said agricultural production in the region could only be supported and increased through the provision of irrigation water to small-scale farmers.This, he said, could be done through the drilling of boreholes and laying of pipes from water points to pastures, fruit and vegetable gardens and grazing areas.The project is expected to cost about N$1,7 million.Subsistence farmers in communal areas who live without water surplus which could be used for crop production and livestock drinking are expected to benefit from the envisaged 15 water points to be created in various areas in the region.Training would also be provided to the farmers if the project were approved.The MCC is a USA government initiative aimed at reducing poverty by accelerating economic growth in developing countries that are taking greater care for their development.- Nampa —- Richard Branson launches bank in South Africa JOHANNESBURG – British entrepreneur Richard Branson launched his Virgin Money bank in South Africa with a characteristic stunt on Monday, vowing to shake up the local financial services industry.”South Africa has not had real (banking) competition up to this point.We are basically launching a bank today,” Branson said at Virgin Money’s headquarters in Johannesburg’s upmarket northern Sandton business district.Branson, who has become known for his outrageous stunts, made the announcement after setting the record for the longest “foofie” (zip-line) slide from an adjacent hotel into the parking lot of his company, renamed Blingingham Palace for the occasion.His bank dipped its feet into the multi-billion rand South African market with a no-frills credit card but will be rolling out mortgages by year-end and short-term insurance and investment products at a later date.”South African banks are ripping off credit card holders to the tune of 1,5 billion rand a year through inexplicably high charges and complex fee structures,” said Branson.”The Virgin Money Credit Card now represents the best value in the market and it signals the beginning of the end of the great South African banking rip-off.”It seems absurd to me that South African banks are still charging customers annual fees just to carry around their particular brand of credit card,” Branson told reporters at a press conference.He said the fact that the big established banks have “somehow managed to cling onto over 66 per cent of the credit card market, after years of giving customers such poor value and service, is even more extraordinary.””For too long, the attitude of South African banks has been that you are lucky to be their customer.”The ultimate expression of this approach is the frankly ludicrous practice of charging fees for card holders to be loyal to them or to reward them.”Virgin Money South Africa general manager John Maxwell said the average local credit card holder paid up to 26 different charges compared with the eight of Virgin Money, which he insisted “was designed to provide absolute transparency in fees.”Maxwell also promised that Virgin Moneys fees were not just a launch gimmick.”The only way we make money is by keeping our customers happy, so they stay a customer.That means making a commitment to offer great value products, with the best customer service in the South African market,” he said.Maxwell said they were seeking 130 000 customers between now and next June and 500 000 clients in the first five years.Branson said the card campaign was mostly aimed at the youth, hence the emphasis on “bling”, but he thought it would be “just as stupid for an older person to hold on to their current card as for a young person.”Virgin Money is already active in several other countries.”We’ve tested our product on Americans, Britons and Australians.Now we are ready for Africans,” Branson said, adding that he was keen to enter Mozambique, Kenya and Uganda next.T-Sec chief economist Mike Schussler said Virgin Money was set to break the hold the country’s four banking groups had on consumers.”That’s going to set the cat among the pigeon’s in the credit card game.For the average man in the street more competition is good.Some banks, such as Nedbank, have already brought down their costs.”Asked about the relevance of yet another stunt to launch a product, Branson told reporters: “We get more coverage if I’m willing to jump off buildings, out of planes or cross oceans in balloons.”- Nampa-AFPThe council has now submitted a proposal to the National Planning Commission to benefit from the Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC) financial assistance to be provided by the US government.In a presentation held here on Monday with delegates from the Millennium Challenge Account Namibian Office, the Regional Coordinator on Food Security and Nutrition Programme for Karas, Mark Mulenga said agricultural production in the region could only be supported and increased through the provision of irrigation water to small-scale farmers.This, he said, could be done through the drilling of boreholes and laying of pipes from water points to pastures, fruit and vegetable gardens and grazing areas.The project is expected to cost about N$1,7 million.Subsistence farmers in communal areas who live without water surplus which could be used for crop production and livestock drinking are expected to benefit from the envisaged 15 water points to be created in various areas in the region.Training would also be provided to the farmers if the project were approved.The MCC is a USA government initiative aimed at reducing poverty by accelerating economic growth in developing countries that are taking greater care for their development.- Nampa —- Richard Branson launches bank in South Africa JOHANNESBURG – British entrepreneur Richard Branson launched his Virgin Money bank in South Africa with a characteristic stunt on Monday, vowing to shake up the local financial services industry.”South Africa has not had real (banking) competition up to this point.We are basically launching a bank today,” Branson said at Virgin Money’s headquarters in Johannesburg’s upmarket northern Sandton business district.Branson, who has become known for his outrageous stunts, made the announcement after setting the record for the longest “foofie” (zip-line) slide from an adjacent hotel into the parking lot of his company, renamed Blingingham Palace for the occasion.His bank dipped its feet into the multi-billion rand South African market with a no-frills credit card but will be rolling out mortgages by year-end and short-term insurance and investment products at a later date.”South African banks are ripping off credit card holders to the tune of 1,5 billion rand a year through inexplicably high charges and complex fee structures,” said Branson.”The Virgin Money Credit Card now represents the best value in the market and it signals the beginning of the end of the great South African banking rip-off.”It seems absurd to me that South African banks are still charging customers annual fees just to carry around their particular brand of credit card,” Branson told reporters at a press conference.He said the fact that the big established banks have “somehow managed to cling onto over 66 per cent of the credit card market, after years of giving customers such poor value and service, is even more extraordinary.””For too long, the attitude of South African banks has been that you are lucky to be their customer.”The ultimate expression of this approach is the frankly ludicrous practice of charging fees for card holders to be loyal to them or to reward them.”Virgin Money South Africa general manager John Maxwell said the average local credit card holder paid up to 26 different charges compared with the eight of Virgin Money, which he insisted “was designed to provide absolute transparency in fees.”Maxwell also promised that Virgin Moneys fees were not just a launch gimmick.”The only way we make money is by keeping our customers happy, so they stay a customer.That means making a commitment to offer great value products, with the best customer service in the South African market,” he said.Maxwell said they were seeking 130 000 customers between now and next June and 500 000 clients in the first five years.Branson said the card campaign was mostly aimed at the youth, hence the emphasis on “bling”, but he thought it would be “just as stupid for an older person to hold on to their current card as for a young person.”Virgin Money is already active in several other countries.”We’ve tested our product on Americans, Britons and Australians.Now we are ready for Africans,” Branson said, adding that he was keen to enter Mozambique, Kenya and Uganda next.T-Sec chief economist Mike Schussler said Virgin Money was set to break the hold the country’s four banking groups had on consumers.”That’s going to set the cat among the pigeon’s in the credit card game.For the average man in the street more competition is good.Some banks, such as Nedbank, have already brought down their costs.”Asked about the relevance of yet another stunt to launch a product, Branson told reporters: “We get more coverage if I’m willing to jump off buildings, out of planes or cross oceans in balloons.”- Nampa-AFP