Part-time farmers consider new options

A GROUP of farmers met in the hills outside Windhoek from March 15 to 18.

They were a colourful bunch: besides some established full-time commercial farmers from Omaruru, Hochfeld and Nina, there were also lawyers, an accountant, a farm manager, a farmworker, a young apprentice from a game farm operation and lecturers from the Polytechnic of Namibia. What they had in common was curiosity to learn and consider fresh ways of looking at nature and working with livestock to improve the grazing in the various regions they are farming at.They learnt to assess how much grazing they have and how many animals they can safely take through the dry season.They learnt how they can manage the movement of their livestock so the animals can prepare the soil for next year’s rainy season.Armed with calculators and clipboards, they mobilised their maths skills to calculate area, time and volume in order to make better decisions for their land, livestock and bank accounts.They compared the options of herding animals, building different kinds of fences, using different materials and technologies.None of them expected a quick, easy solution to their problems and challenges.By now they know that they will always have more than one option to choose from.They accept that the best solutions come from creative brainstorming, planning and decision-making based on careful consideration of economic, social, legal, environmental and political factors.While realising the many limitations that come with being a part-time farmer, they are excited to focus on what they can improve by using the resources and limited time available to them.In the words of one of the participants: “I wanted to learn the calculations for herding, electric fence and normal fence which I got.I needed to be in a position to know how much grass I have and I got it.I needed applied knowledge, which I got.So to me it was very beneficial, the course setup and the group setup.”The participants got to know these principles through an ongoing learning and support programme for part-time and full-time farmers and most have completed the series of four formal learning sessions.Before this session they attended seminars on record keeping (for financial monitoring and livestock production), on financial planning and on holistic decision-making.They realised that in order to improve their farming operation they have to look at their whole life: relationships between family members and neighbours, their desired personal quality of life, timing, finances and physical resources and the other responsibilities they have in their community.Learning to build sustainable successes and still to have fun is the purpose of the learning and support programme.Anyone interested can attend another introductory seminar offered from April 20 to 22 April in Windhoek.For more information, contact Wiebke Volkmann at wiebke@mweb.com.na or 081 127 0081, or Usiel Kandjii at usiel.kandjii@nampower.com.na or 081 284 0426.People who are interested in becoming a mentor in this group of self-motivated go-getting professionals and farmers are also welcome to contact the organisers.What they had in common was curiosity to learn and consider fresh ways of looking at nature and working with livestock to improve the grazing in the various regions they are farming at.They learnt to assess how much grazing they have and how many animals they can safely take through the dry season.They learnt how they can manage the movement of their livestock so the animals can prepare the soil for next year’s rainy season.Armed with calculators and clipboards, they mobilised their maths skills to calculate area, time and volume in order to make better decisions for their land, livestock and bank accounts.They compared the options of herding animals, building different kinds of fences, using different materials and technologies.None of them expected a quick, easy solution to their problems and challenges.By now they know that they will always have more than one option to choose from.They accept that the best solutions come from creative brainstorming, planning and decision-making based on careful consideration of economic, social, legal, environmental and political factors.While realising the many limitations that come with being a part-time farmer, they are excited to focus on what they can improve by using the resources and limited time available to them.In the words of one of the participants: “I wanted to learn the calculations for herding, electric fence and normal fence which I got.I needed to be in a position to know how much grass I have and I got it.I needed applied knowledge, which I got.So to me it was very beneficial, the course setup and the group setup.”The participants got to know these principles through an ongoing learning and support programme for part-time and full-time farmers and most have completed the series of four formal learning sessions.Before this session they attended seminars on record keeping (for financial monitoring and livestock production), on financial planning and on holistic decision-making.They realised that in order to improve their farming operation they have to look at their whole life: relationships between family members and neighbours, their desired personal quality of life, timing, finances and physical resources and the other responsibilities they have in their community.Learning to build sustainable successes and still to have fun is the purpose of the learning and support programme.Anyone interested can attend another introductory seminar offered from April 20 to 22 April in Windhoek.For more information, contact Wiebke Volkmann at wiebke@mweb.com.na or 081 127 0081, or Usiel Kandjii at usiel.kandjii@nampower.com.na or 081 284 0426.People who are interested in becoming a mentor in this group of self-motivated go-getting professionals and farmers are also welcome to contact the organisers.