27 Jan 2016

Farmers in Ngamiland have been requested to make submissions for inclusion in Vision 2036.

Vision 2036 team member, Lt Gen. Tebogo Masire urged them to submit because their views were integral to Vision 2036 ongoing consultations.

He said the Ngamiland region faced challenges which negatively affected the farmers hence the need for them to submit their views with regard to agriculture.

The farmers had informed the meeting that they could not present their views at short notice, as they were not informed that they would be required to make submissions.

However, one farmer, Mr Jakoba Thabano said the Ngamiland region was rich in resources, but that the people were impoverished by Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) hence the need for the government to eliminate the disease by 2036.

Mr Thabano also suggested that the leather industry should be explored to utilise domestic and wildlife hides, and also advised fellow farmers to embrace Vision 2036 which she said would be beneficial to the future generation.

Ms Wright encouraged farmers to form a forum where they could come up with issues to be submitted to the Vision 2036 team.

However, Ms Wright pointed out that farming and tourism were conflicting sectors in the Ngamiland region, adding that although farmers were aware of the economic benefits of tourism they failed to accept it as it benefited farmers indirectly unlike agriculture. 

In an interview, Lt Gen. Masire said four teams were dispatched across the country to carry out consultations with various groups to get people’s aspirations, wishes and concerns which would inform the Vision 2036 pillars.

He said the consultations were expected to be wrapped up by May and a report submitted to the President. ENDS