The All People's Party (APP) Secretary General, Vincent Kanyetu, has accused the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform of abandoning the Mashare Agriculture Development Institute (MADI).
Kanyetu says the institute was a hub of research and innovation in its heyday and lived up to its mandate of developing agriculture in the Kavango regions.
The APP leader visited the institute to familiarise himself with the situation after allegedly receiving information that research activities were at a halt.
At its peak, MADI boasted several breeds of cattle, goats, pigs, sheep, and chickens, among others, but most of the animal houses are in a state of disrepair.
Farmers from the region and beyond would come there to learn the best practices in animal husbandry and crop production.
"I am therefore making a call to the regional council and everybody, the inhabitants of Kavango East and West. This is a very important institution that we have in our midst here for training and research purposes, but the thing that's making this place not functional is the lack of budget being allocated to it. What a shame."
He was also informed that most of the animals have died from neglect and hunger as the centre cannot afford to purchase supplement feeds and medicines.
Kanyetu thus calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform to surrender the facility to institutions of higher learning to use it optimally.
"The region must take over the ownership of this institution so that, together with other institutions like UNAM and others, this place can be revamped and put to good use. I mean, it's not a secret that Kavango East and West and Zambezi are supposed to be agriculture regions, but what are we doing as a government to make sure that research centres and training centres like Mashare are well maintained and are also delivering service to the community?"
He welcomed the Minister of Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation, Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi's remarks that Unam's Rundu Campus could soon offer courses in agriculture.
Kanyetu believes the centre is suitable for that purpose, should UNAM introduce such courses.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform spokesperson Jona Musheko says the ministry is aware of the situation at MADI.
Musheko says MADI is affected by budgetary constraints that have affected several projects within the Ministry of Agriculture over the past years.
He was, however, quick to point out that the ministry is working on a sustainable solution that would result in the optimal utilisation of the centre moving forward.