The Northern Namibia Farmers Seed Growers Cooperative, within the Omahanene Crop Research Station in the Omusati Region, is advising crop farmers to use improved certified seeds for high yields in a short period of time as opposed to traditional ones.

The cooperative was founded by 50 members 25 years ago in response to the need to supply farmers in the northern communal areas with high-quality seeds.

Since then, the cooperative's membership has grown to more than 200 seed growers, who provide farmers with high-quality seeds at a low cost.

The aim is to increase food security and improve livelihoods.

The cooperative produces a variety of certified seeds, namely Okashana No. 2, Okangara, Kantana, Red Sorghum, Macia, Cowpeas, Bira, and Maize.

This year the cooperative has produced 150 tons of pearl millet, three tons of sorghum, and two tons of cowpeas, which is more than what was produced in the previous year.

The certified seeds are also sold to the general public to improve their own production.

"I am just urging the farmers to come through. It is that time of the year again. Seeds are all available at our center; they must make their way through, and I am encouraging farmers to move with time at least to plant improved varieties in order to attain a high yield at the end of the day."

However, the negative effects of COVID-19 resulted in high production costs and certified seed prices.

In: The price was 10.25 cents and this year we manage to increase or to adjust our price to 13.40 per Kg of the pear-millet and we increase our price for the cowpeas to 15.00 per Kg of which back then it was only 12.00 per Kg. Out: