Resettled farmers on Westfalen farm in Mariental Rural Constituency are struggling to produce enough maize for the past five years due to broken equipment and other challenges.

There has been a significant contribution from the agriculture sector to Gross Domestic Product over the past years.

This was said by the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Carl Schlettwein when he addressed his staff and stakeholders.

Mashare Berries Farm in the Kavango East Region is expected to create more employment, following the expansion of its production with 40 more hectares.

For the past four years, the farm has been operating on 20 hectares piece of land.

Some areas in the Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions have started to receive rainfall as of late January.

However, most farming communities are of the opinion that they are hoping to record above-average rainfall as grazing land has been in a deplorable state. 

The Namibia Agronomic Board and National Commission on Research, Science and Technology have signed a new agreement to facilitate agricultural research, innovation, value-addition and tests of crops that emanate from Genetically Modified Organisms.

The water levels in the Cuvelai flood plains generally known as oshanas have risen due to heavy rains and all necessary precautionary measures need to be in place for possible floods.

This was revealed by the Deputy Director for Hydrology in the Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Pauline Mufeti.

About 48 fishermen employed by the Seaflower Corporation and the Seacope Corporation staged a demonstration protesting the alleged failure by management to pay their five months' outstanding salaries.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform has expressed concern about the theft and vandalism of equipment used to monitor floods at its satellite stations along the Cuvelai Basin in the Omusati and Ohangwena regions.

Amidst the labour unrest at NIMT, Executive Director Ralph Bussel stressed that the entity solely relies on the Namibia Training Authority and Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund, to support its operations.

The manager at the Musese Green Scheme in the Kavango West, Winfried Metzger, is optimistic about a good harvest this year, despite constant power outages.

Poor rainfall during the planting forced the project to rely on machinery for watering the maize almost on a daily basis.