The number of unoccupied farms in the ||Kharas Region has been reduced from over 30 to eleven over the past 10 years. 

This was revealed by the Deputy Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Albertus Engelbrecht. 

Engelbrecht made the revelation during an engagement between the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Urban and Rural Development and Land Reform and ||Kharas Communal Land Board, held in Keetmanshoop as part of the committee's oversight visit.

He explained the farms have been unoccupied due to water challenges, which the ministry has since, through its emergency water drilling programme, addressed. 

"We are moving towards a zero target of unoccupied farming units. But, unfortunately, in some cases we drilled, we found water, but it is not suitable for livestock and human consumption. So, you cannot really force that person to go."

Engelbrecht noted water infrastructure at some of the 11 unoccupied farming units had been rehabilitated.

"Now, we are saying okay, now your farm we cited, we drilled, we installed, it's having running water, come now. So, there are two or three that we are dealing with. And we expect letters through the Resettlement Committee and recommendations through the Land Reform Advisory Commission to the minister. We are expecting a letter to come to say, 'We have given you a chance to occupy; now we cancel the lease'."

The government to date has acquired 95 farms in the ||Kharas Region and subdivided them into 185 units. 

Engelbrecht said 140 of these farming units have been allocated to beneficiaries from the region. 

Five cooperative entities also received farm allocations.