25 Sep 2018

The Department of Crop Production has received P600 000 as donation to procure conservation agriculture equipment courtesy of Ngamiland Sustainable Land Management (SLM) project. 

The equipment includes row planters, hand hoes, boom sprayers and rippers. North West District Council chairperson, Mr Duncan Enga appreciated the contribution of SLM in advancing the development of the district. 

The SLM project aims at addressing land degradation challenges in Ngamiland. 

The five-year project started in 2014 and is coming to an end in 2019 with the expectation to leave a legacy towards the improvement of livelihood of communities in the district. 

“The SLM project has partnered with department of agriculture to fight measles which continues to be a big problem averaging eight per cent of the total slaughter in abattoirs,” he said. 

To reduce measles prevalence, both parties purchased 2 000 deworming tablets for measles and they were handed over to the farming community of Lake Ngami cluster villages. 

He urged other organisations to also play a part in developing Ngamiland. 

The house was also briefed about the Contagious Bovine Pleuro Pneumonia (CBPP) outbreak in Namibia. 

Mr Enga said the disease was a serious threat to Ngamiland livestock, but said the Department of Veterinary Services had embarked on preparatory activities to avert the spillover of CBBP into Botswana. 

The activities include fence maintenance along the border to avoid mix up of Botswana and Namibian cattle. 

“As for CBBP surveillance both visual and clinical inspection of animals two teams covering crushes close to the border and the village of Chukumuchu and Gani are underway. Also training of extension officers on CBBP is being done,” he added. 

Mr Enga also revealed that engagements between the two countries had been initiated, and that Namibia had started vaccination. 

On other issues, councillors also learnt that donor funded projects were ongoing with the partial taking over of Sexaxa Primary School on May 2018. 

The council was reported to be still sourcing money to complete outstanding works to enable full completion. 

Mr Enga revealed that the request for virement of funds would be done next month. 

He also pointed out that the school at Khwai was completed but that the donor did not include the construction of staff houses. The staff houses, he said, were a priority for next year as proposals had been sent to the relevant ministry. 

He explained that the council was sourcing other means to provide teachers’ accommodation. “The request to vire funds will also be sent to finance in October to procure temporary porta cabins for teachers,” he said. ENDS