Agriforum Namibian Agriculture Magazine

14/02/2025

𝙈𝙖𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚ë𝙡𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙡 𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙞𝙚𝙠𝙩𝙚

Nuwe maatreëls teen knopvelsiekte, wat verpligte inentings insluit van alle bees wat vir uitvoermarkte bestem is, is pas deur die direktoraat van veeartsenydienste (DVS) afgekondig.
Terselfdertyd sal inentings vanaf 13 Maart vereis word voor enige bewigingspermitte uitgereik sal word vir beeste van Grootfontein, Oakakarara, Nkurenkuru, Ondangwa, Epukiro, Otjinene, Rundu, Eenhana, Katima Mulilo of Omithiya. Die beeste moet ten minste 21 dae vóór die tyd teen knopvelsiekte ingeënt wees en mag ook nie langer as ‘n jaar gelede gespuit wees nie.
Dit volg nadat altesaam 1 564 kliniese gevalle van die virussiekte reeds voorgekom het met 443 vrektes onder beeste tot dusver. Die eerste geval van die siekte het in Junie 2024 by Okakarara voorgekom waarna dit na sommige dele van die Omaheke-, Kavango-oos-, Kavango-wes-, Zambezi-, Ohangwena-, Oshana-, Oshikoto- en Kunene-streek versprei het.
Terwyl boere landwyd aangemoedig word om teen knopvelsiekte in te ent, sal diere wat byeengebring word soos tydens veilings, ‘n dag voor die tyd vir inspeksie voorgehou moet word. Indien enige siek diere gevind word, sal alle vee van die gegewe plaas af geïsoleer en teruggestuur word.
Diere uit gebiede wat reeds deur die siekte geraak is, sal net kan beweeg indien hulle minstens tussen 21 dae voor die tyd of nie langer as ‘n jaar gelede teen knopvelsiekte ingeënt is nie.

𝙉𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜
DVS het op Vrydag 7 Februarie ‘n noodvergadering met relevante rolspelers soos die LLPBN (Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia) en verskaffers van veemedisyne belê om vas te stel hoe die siekte daadwerklik hokgeslaan kan word.
Altesaam 17 671 beeste in die Otjombinde-kiesafdeling, asook nog 11 066 beeste in die Okakarara-, Otjituuo-, Okondjatu- en Okamatipati-gebiede is reeds deur DVS ingeënt. Nog entstowwe vir soortgelyke veldtogte in gebiede wat die ergste geraak word, sal binnekort beskikbaar wees.
Buiten vir inentings, raai DVS beesboere aan om beheer toe te pas van bloedsuiende insekte soos muskiete en steekvlieë, wat die siekte oordra. DVS sê die siekte is volgens wet ‘n aanmeldbare veesiekte en moet by die naaste staatsveearts rapporteer word.

𝙀𝙠𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙠
Dr Anja Boshoff-de Witt by die LLPBN sê die siekte kan ‘n impak hê op Namibië se bees en beesvleisuitvoere, sou daar nie nou daadwerklik opgetree word om dit hok te slaan nie. “Ideaal gesproke sal ons wil sien dat alle boere hul kuddes voorkomend teen die siekte inent.”
Sy sê die inkubasietydperk van die siekte is 28-dae, wat beteken beeste kan die siekte opdoen en vir lank nog gesond voorkom. Boonop is die bees eers beskerm teen knopvelsiekte 21 dae ná inenting, wat die wagtydperk van drie weke noodsaak.

𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙚𝙜 𝙫𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙖𝙙
“Ons is gerat teen knopvelsiekte met genoeg voorraad van entstowwe wat by Agra, Kaap-Agri en Swavet teen sowat N$15 tot N$20 per inenting verkoop word,” het MSD se Hennie Brisley aan Agriforum bevestig.
“Tans bestuur ons voorraad so dat daar elke week sowat 150 000 dossisse entstof in die land in sirkulasie is. As plattelandse takke uit voorraad hardloop, kan dit op aanvraag binne ‘n dag uit Windhoek gestuur word.”
Hennie sê knopvelsiekte breek sowat elke vier tot vyf jaar in Namibië uit met net 15% tot 20% van besmette diere wat gewoonlik simptome toon. Sowat 2% van besmette diere vrek gewoonlik, terwyl ander siekes se hersteltydperk tussen 21 tot 28 dae neem. Daarna het die dier vir ‘n paar maande ‘n natuurlike weerstand teen die siekte. “Daarteenoor weet ons die entstof maak beeste vir ten minste ‘n jaar lank immuun teen die siekte.”
Die siekte word deur die pokkevirus se Neethlingstam veroorsaak en deur bytende insekte oorgedra. Buiten vir knoppe op die vel, veroorsaak die virus koors, ontsteekte oë en ‘n afskeiding uit hul oë en neuse. Hulle ook lusteloos. Die winter help gewoonlik om die siekte hok te slaan.

FOTO ProAgriMedia

14/02/2025

𝗙𝗨𝗡 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬
Valentine’s Day has a fascinating history that dates back to the Middle Ages. It was believed in France and England during this period, that February 14th marked the date when birds began their mating season.

It’s also from the Middle Ages we get the phrase “wear your heart on your sleeve”. This comes from an old custom: A woman ties a favour to a man’s sleeve to signal their love for each other.

10/02/2025

𝗡𝗔𝗨 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗡𝘂𝗷𝗼𝗺𝗮’𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲

Supporting government projects over many years is indicative of the NAU policy of considering the government a partner. One of these was when members of 25 farmers’ associations and the entire NAU staff took up pick and shovel to support founding president Sam Nujoma’s (1990 – 2005) nation-building initiative – the construction of a railway line from Oshivambo to Angola.

The occasion on 15 July 2005 saw more than a hundred farmers driving wheelbarrows full of sand under the supervision of former president Nujoma. He retired earlier that year on 21 March after completing three terms in office.

The NAU was one of the largest groups to support the Nujoma project since its inception in 2001 – a great effort that received a broad positive response. After a day of hard work, the farmers and their wives stood ready to treat founding president Nujoma and his high-level delegation to a traditional Namibian braai under the open sky. It was at Outapi where the farmers set up camp. Excavations for the railway had then progressed beyond Ondangwa to the border town of Oshikango.

In his welcoming address, Dr Nujoma stressed that all Namibians must stand and work together to achieve goals and support development – a dream of his that Namibia must continue to pursue in future. He expressed his sincere appreciation to NAU members and warmly thanked them for their participation and donations. He also outlined in detail the progress of the railway, which will eventually connect several southern African countries to a major railway network. “Rail transport is cheaper and will relieve pressure on our countries’ roads,” he added.

(Meanwhile, the railway from Tsumeb through Oshivambo’s makalani plains has progressed to 1 km into Angola and is currently in use.)

𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗢𝗦: NAU members turned out in masses to support founding president Sam Nujoma’s nation-building initiative – the extension of the national rail network from Tsumeb to Ondangwa, Oshikango and Angola. The NAU was one of the largest groups that joined hands with the late Dr Nujoma to help realise his dream. This event made it to the cover page of Agriforum’s August 2005 issue. In the last photo Sakkie Coetzee, former NAU executive manager, handed over a NAU T-shirt to the late Dr Nujoma. In the middle is former Hit Radio presenter Wilfried Hähner.

10/02/2025

10/02/2025

𝗧𝗶𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝗸𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿

Tien damme het oor die afgelope week ‘n invloei gehad. Hardap het die heel meeste water bygekry – 21,6 miljoen kubieke meter (Mm³) – en is nou 22,1% vol. ‘n Week gelede het die suidedam net sowat 14,8% water gehad. ‘n Jaar gelede het dit op 15,7% gestaan.

Hiernaas het die Nautedam die tweede meeste water bygekry – sowat 4 Mm³. Dit het in ‘n week van 27% tot 31,9% gelig. Derde op die lys is die Swakoppoortdam, wat ‘n rapsie minder as 2 Mm³ water bygekry het en van 24,3% tot 27,4% gestyg het.

Nog damme wat ‘n inloop gehad het, sluit in die Von Bach, Omatako, Friedenau, Goreangab, Otjivero, Neckartal en Oanobdam, maar almal minder as 1 Mm³.

FOTO VAN HARDAPDAM IN 2016 TER ILLUSTRASIE

09/02/2025

𝐋𝐚 𝐍𝐢ñ𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜, 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭-𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝

La Niña emerged in the eastern Pacific Ocean in early December 2024 after months of anticipation but may not last long. A 9 January report from America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) suggests conditions could return to neutral by spring 2025.

NOAA recorded sea surface temperatures 0.7°C (1.3°F) below average in the Niño 3.4 region, a key area for monitoring El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) activity.

La Niña occurs when strong easterly trade winds bring cold, deep ocean water to the surface in the eastern tropical Pacific, cooling the equatorial waters. These winds push warm waters westward toward Asia and Australia, impacting global weather patterns by altering moisture levels and atmospheric conditions.

PHOTO OF PACIFIC OCEAN FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES

08/02/2025

𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗿𝗲𝘂𝗴𝗱𝗲!
Die kol-kol reënpatroon het hopelik nou plek gemaak vir meer wydverspeide en goeie reënbuie. Die lyk darem of ‘n mate van uitkoms ook wag op die sentraal-ooste wat grootliks nog droog is. Reënstorms, soos gister op Tsumeb, begin ook nou kop uitsteek.

Uit Koës se wêreld laat weet Anette Steyn 7 Februarie 2025 sal by hulle onthou word as die dag waarop hulle die meeste reën sedert 2012 binne 24 uur gekry het. Hulle het tussen 19 mm en 60 mm reën op die kalkgrond ontvang.

Gieliam Botma, 40 km noordwes van Aronos, sê gister se 21 mm was die eerste ordentlike reën in twee jaar by hulle.

Selfs die waterarm Usakos is mildelik geseën. Die Kahn-rivier by die dorp het ook begin loop. Mense vertel hulle het lanklaas soveel water tussen Karibib en Usakos gesien. Sabine Fischer sê 39 mm reën is tussen Dinsdag tot Vrydag op Omaruru ontvang.

Dele van die Otavi-vallei trek al by die 500 mm vir die seisoen terwyl ‘n hewige haelstorm gister op Tsumeb die JP Ratledge-sportstadion by die Etosha Hoërskool se dak afgewaai het en talle bome op die dorp platgetrek het. Inwoners van die dorp het tussen 18 mm tot 48 mm gemeet.

Uit die ooste, waar reën tot dusver skraps was, laat weet Susan Horn hulle plaas by Gobabis het gister 38 mm ontvang.

Die toergids Toni Hart het gister op ‘n reëngroep op Facebook gewaarsku sterk riviere loop oor die D1275-roete op pad na die C14-pad in die Spreetshoogte-omgewing en sal na verwagting groot skade aanrig.

Björn Basler sê dit is die tweede keer in een week dat die Konkiep- en Helme-riviere in volle vloed naby die Helmeringhausen Hotel afkom – altwee op pad na die Visrivier.

𝗔𝗚𝗥𝗜𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗨𝗠 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗬𝗗𝗦𝗞𝗥𝗜𝗙 𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗕𝗜𝗔

08/02/2025

𝗕𝗢𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗦
'n Nuwe dieet word môre vrygestel. Resultate binne dertig dae gewaarborg. Al wat jy moet doen, is petrol in jou kar gooi. Jy sal vir die res van die maand nie geld hê om kos te koop nie.

07/02/2025

𝗩𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗽𝗱𝗮𝗺 𝗸𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿
Die vlak van die Hardapdam het van Maandag tot vanoggend 08:00 (Vrydag) met 2,4% gelig van 14,8% tot 17,2%. Dit is die hoogste vlak die afgelope jaar. Verlede jaar dié tyd was die dam se stand 16,3%.

Vanoggend is ‘n taamlike invloei van 71,4 m³ per sekonde steeds gemeet. Nog water is besig om die dam te bereik.

Foto’s: Freddie Simon het die foto’s van invloei in die Hardapdam uit sy helikopter aan Agriforum verskaf. Die bruisende watermassa is waar die taamlike sterk invloei die dam bereik. Hy het die foto’s gisteroggend (Donderdag) geneem.

07/02/2025

𝗙𝗨𝗡 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬
Walking for 12 hours a day would take the average person 690 days to walk around the world.

04/02/2025

Wie moes nog swem ná vandag se lekker reën?

Johan Strydom het pas laat weet dat hy namiddag lekker ‘geswem’ het in sy agterplaas in Kleine Kuppe nadat 80 mm uitgesak het. Gelukkig kon hy net betyds die verstopte stormwaterdrein oopkry voordat die massas water deur sy huis gestroom het, vertel hy op die permakultuur WhatsApp-groep.

Bruisende watermassas was elders die stad 'n algemene gesig. In Olympia het 'n motor in 'n sterk stroom rondgedryf. In die suidelike nywerheidsgebied het strate ook in riviere verander.

Kom ons deel ons reënervaringe, videogrepe of foto's!

Foto ter illustrasie

04/02/2025

𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗚𝗿𝗼 𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗮
From September to February is the ideal time for farmers in Namibia to venture into banana cultivation. With major local buyers already committed to sourcing locally produced bananas, farmers can kickstart their journey with young, healthy banana trees cultivated at AvaGro's tissue culture lab in Swakopmund.

AvaGro CEO Leonie Hartman is working at the forefront of local research into banana production and establishing an infant banana industry in Namibia. AvaGro has already secured a major buyer, who has committed to purchasing all locally produced bananas, to limit the high cost of imports. Additionally, AvaGro is prepared to collaborate with the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) to facilitate the offtake of banana harvests from local farmers.

"We aim to grow a resilient local banana industry collectively and, if possible, establish a Namibia banana association. The NAB is on board with the fruit development scheme (FDS) to support value-added agro-processing of fruits such as banana-based frozen products or even flour for baking," she added.

04/02/2025

𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘁
In the heart of the Namibian desert, AvaGro is leading the charge in agricultural innovation using cutting-edge technologies such as hydroponics, biotechnology and reverse osmosis. Operating from Swakopmund, the company has turned adversity into an opportunity by producing up to 100 tonnes of vegetables and flowers per month, all year round.

"I believe if we can succeed here in one of the most unforgiving environments on Earth, it can be done anywhere. Our mission is to reclaim the desert and demonstrate that even seemingly infertile areas can become productive landscapes," says Leonie Hartman, AvaGro's chief executive.

They invest heavily in training local farmers and workers, and agricultural research to "cross-pollinate and collaborate" within the local agricultural sector. AvaGro also set up a tissue culture lab and nursery - a first for Namibia - producing various healthy, strong seedlings for a variety of high-value crops.

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱
Leonie describes their journey over the past five years as 'trailblazing' indicating that their direction is guided by the needs and feedback of the industry.

"What sets us apart is the unique environment in which we operate - the oldest desert in the world, situated along the unforgiving Atlantic Ocean. In Swakopmund, you can experience four seasons in one day. We also have to deal with saline and nutrient-poor soil and a lack of fresh water. We are forced to make use of advanced methods and technologies to sustain production."

03/02/2025

𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬

02/02/2025

𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗣𝗘 𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬
𝗦𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝘂
𝗜𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
1 tbsp peanut oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 cm piece ginger, finely grated
500 g extra lean pork mince
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp oyster sauce
3 shallots, thinly sliced
2 tsp fresh lime juice
1 tsp sesame oil
1 cup beansprouts, trimmed
12 large lettuce leaves
1/4 cup fresh coriander leaves
1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts, optional

𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱: Heat wok over high heat until hot. Add peanut oil and swirl to coat. Add garlic, ginger and pork. Stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes or until pork changes colour. Add soy sauce and oyster. Add shallots, 2 teaspoons of lime juice and sesame oil to wok. Stir-fry for 3 minutes or until heated through. Stir in beansprouts. Spoon pork mixture into lettuce leaves. Sprinkle with coriander and peanuts, if using. Serve. (www.taste.com.au)

01/02/2025

𝗕𝗢𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗦

31/01/2025

𝗙𝗨𝗡 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬
A study in 2018 found that wearing a necktie reduces the blood flow to the brain by up to 7,5%. This can make a person feel dizzy, nauseous and cause headaches. Wearing ties can also increase the pressure in the eyes if on too tight and are great at carrying germs.