The Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Carl Schlettwein, has implored communal farmers in the Omaheke Region to improve agricultural production and to prioritise value addition and infrastructural evolution in the sector.

The Minister remarked on this during the official opening of the 20th Aminuis Agricultural and Industrial Show.

Acknowledging that the Aminuis Constituency is experiencing a severe drought, Schlettwein emphasised that the farming community continued to produce quality livestock, proof of their determination and hard work.

He said that with the proper attention and funding, the agriculture sector can be run sustainably, including offering job opportunities and food security.

Agricultural and industrial shows, the minister said, act as platforms for exchanging ideas and promoting products and strategies between farmers.

"Farmers are primary producers of goods, but what is most important is that I believe that we are the initiators of value chains. Without a livestock industry, you will have no food in restaurants; you will have nothing, and it is only fair, if I may say so, that farmer must be part of that value addition beyond the farm gate; that is where the money is actually. Famers must stop being price takers; they must start becoming price dictators."

Aminuis Constituency Councillor Peter Kazongominja pointed out that, given the socioeconomic aspects derived from the agricultural sector, it is expected that the farming communities develop resilient mechanisms to keep up with the industry.