COMMERCIAL farmers are growing older and young farmers are getting fewer.
During last week’s meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) it took note of the age analysis of commercial farmers who are affiliated to the NAU.
Statistics show that the average age of members is about 55 years and only 12 per cent of the members are younger than 40 years.
The Executive Council is concerned that the succession of young farmers is insufficient to continue with the experience and knowledge accumulated by farmers in the commercial sector over decades. As part of the NAU’s programme to equip farmers’ association managers with proper knowledge, training courses will be offered. Young farmers are also encouraged to take part in the annual Young Farmer of the Year competition to give young farmers the chance to show their mettle in order to motivate other young farmers. NAU membership has increased after a recent decision to make the union more accessible to emerging farmers. The NAU has gained 53 new members in this financial year, which started on March 1 2010. ‘Quite a number of them are emerging farmers,’ the NAU said in its latest weekly newsletter on Friday.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
