20 Mar 2025

Great Plains Conservation has donated five walk behind tractors to the five villages that fall under the Okavango Community Trust (OCT).

Speaking at the handing over of the farming equipment recently, Great Plains Conservation managing director Ms Daphne Kadiwa said the donation - which included five walk behind tractors with their disc plough, planter and tiller - would help empower the communities of the OCT villages that include Seronga, Gunotsoga, Eretsha, Beetsha and Gudigwa, and nurture the local economy through self-reliance and sustainable development.

Ms Kadiwa said communities from the five villages have been relying on one tractor which was donated by Great Plains Conservation last year which was not adequate to cover all the villages.

She pointed that in addition to the donation there would be a training conducted by the Department of Crop Production and Haskins team to ensure proper use, care and maintenance of the farming equipment.

She stated that Great Plains Foundation had a remarkable relationship with the OCT communities adding that the organisation reviewed its assistance from time to time. She said the Trust also saw the need to donate 50 solar units to selected needy families who lacked electricity. She the solar donation was made possible through their Solar Mama initiative which has been running since 2022.

Seronga Councilor Mr Boiteko Marokwa said the donates equipment would advance farming since farmers in the Okavango area commonly used donkeys and cattle as draught power. ENDS