The Kavango East and Kavango West farmers' unions have called for speedy implementation of the 11th European Development Fund Livestock Support Project in the northern communal areas.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform is the implementing agent for the project meant to improve livestock marketing north of the Red Line.

The farmers' unions made the call at a media conference at Rundu, saying they face numerous challenges that hamper the development of the livestock production sector.

The  EDF11 was supposed to be meant to buy trucks to transport animals to markets and establish feedlots at Musese and Uvhungu Vhungu green schemes.

A lack of access roads from small-scale farms, he says, has made it difficult for farmers to transport cattle to the markets.

There are about 600 small-scale commercial farming units in the two Kavango regions, which were availed to improve the livestock farming sector.

Meanwhile, farmers also call on Minister Carl Schlettwein to approve leasehold applications for farmers who are given land by traditional authorities.