The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform last week confirmed an outbreak of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, commonly referred to as lung sickness, in the Kunene Region.

The organisers of the Keetmanshoop Agriculture, Industrial, and Tourism Expo have raised more than N$100,000 for this year's event, scheduled to take place from October 29 to November 2.

The Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture, in collaboration with the World Food Programme and the Embassy of Brazil, undertook a site visit to the Stampriet Combined in Hardap, which is piloting an integrated food systems project.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Anna Shiweda, is in the Zambezi Region on a three-day visit to tour abattoirs and familiarise herself with the implementation of the poultry and horticulture programmes that are supported by the government.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Government Institutions Pensions Fund (GIPF), Martin Inkumbi, has expressed satisfaction with the production at the Mashare Berries farm in the Kavango East Region.

Mashare Berries is one of the projects funded by GIPF. 

There are indications that farmers in various parts of the country are heeding the advice to destock their herds, as more than 5,000 have applied for marketing incentives.

The Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform Ministry brought together management from all 14 regions to review major activities and performance in the first quarter of this financial year.

Ministry officials are gathered at Oshakati for a week-long annual work plan and management workshop, ending on Friday.

A one-day farmers' day event aimed at equipping farmers with knowledge on vaccines and livestock diseases was poorly attended by farmers in the Okakarara constituency.

This is even though the Otjozondjupa Region is battling an outbreak of lumpy skin disease.

Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa have excelled in a joint livestock sector project under the African Union.

Agriculture Minister Carl Schlettwein revealed this at the conclusion of official talks between the Presidents of Namibia and Botswana last week.

The Agriculture Extension officer based in the Hardap Region, Fabian Boys, has encouraged the region's communal and resettlement farmers to embrace government-subsidised support services aimed at boosting agricultural growth.