WAD preaches drastic change of mindset to commercial farmers

WOMEN’S Action for Development (WAD) says there is a need for a drastic change in the mindset of white commercial farmers if volatile labour relations in the commercial farming sector are to be stabilised.

“The sooner white commercial farmers clearly demonstrate a new attitude towards their workers, the better their chances are to survive peacefully in Namibia,” WAD Executive Director Veronica de Klerk told a gathering of about 60 members of the Okahandja Farmers’ Association on Friday. “Many odds are stacked against the ‘have’s’ in the farming sector as you very well know but this one issue which we are dealing with right now will dramatically turn the tide in your favour as well as in favour of farm labourers.”De Klerk’s organisation was invited by Okahandja commercial farmers to provide training to their workers.She said that a large majority of commercial farmers in Namibia neglected their farm labourers as far as general upliftment through training was concerned.De Klerk urged farmers not to push against this reality but to rather start forming partnerships with community developers to reverse the trend.”Apart from the fact that it is totally unacceptable from a humanitarian point of view to keep workers in the bondage of ignorance, it is economically very unwise to keep them hostage by not empowering them,” she said.The WAD leader declared that because of the past colonial history and the negative policies and human relations, white commercial farmers should take the lead in reversing the injustices of the past.”Whether true or false, I’m sorry to say that white commercial farmers are unfortunately viewed to have been part of that oppressive regime.And now the regime has changed, a dramatic mind shift is needed among white commercial farmers to bring about concrete and positive actions and results,” De Klerk said.This, according to her, would pave the way for a better dispensation for farm labourers and positively affect improved productivity in the farming sector as a whole.”Many odds are stacked against the ‘have’s’ in the farming sector as you very well know but this one issue which we are dealing with right now will dramatically turn the tide in your favour as well as in favour of farm labourers.”De Klerk’s organisation was invited by Okahandja commercial farmers to provide training to their workers.She said that a large majority of commercial farmers in Namibia neglected their farm labourers as far as general upliftment through training was concerned.De Klerk urged farmers not to push against this reality but to rather start forming partnerships with community developers to reverse the trend.”Apart from the fact that it is totally unacceptable from a humanitarian point of view to keep workers in the bondage of ignorance, it is economically very unwise to keep them hostage by not empowering them,” she said.The WAD leader declared that because of the past colonial history and the negative policies and human relations, white commercial farmers should take the lead in reversing the injustices of the past.”Whether true or false, I’m sorry to say that white commercial farmers are unfortunately viewed to have been part of that oppressive regime.And now the regime has changed, a dramatic mind shift is needed among white commercial farmers to bring about concrete and positive actions and results,” De Klerk said.This, according to her, would pave the way for a better dispensation for farm labourers and positively affect improved productivity in the farming sector as a whole.