A lifelong dream has come true for Karasburg farmer Blasius Stephanus, who can finally call a piece of land his own thanks to the government's land distribution programme.

The government resettled Stephanus on the Retreat farm in the Karasburg district about two years ago, a moment he recalled as the best thing that has ever happened to him after several unsuccessful applications for resettlement.

For Stephanus, the resettlement is more than land allocation, but it is a long-awaited opportunity to create jobs, boost the country's agricultural output, and leave a legacy for the next generation.

He currently employs 3 workers.

"From the next 2 to 4 years, I would like myself to be counted in the mainstream of the economic contributors in this country because I am surrounded by commercial farmers. And when I see what these guys are doing, I will be a disgrace to our government if I don't conform. I will also be a mockery to the white commercial farmers."

With determination in his voice, Stephanus vowed to turn the farm into a fully fledged commercial operation, producing livestock for local and export markets.

"It is most important that we should not forget because many people, whenever you are talking about farming, just think about livestock. As you can see all over here, we are busy with agronomic farming also. Here we got a gardening system for household use. But there is a place not yet started, and we are planning to produce for the market."

Sharing progress he has made since then, Stephanus installed a solar system to electrify the farm.

Equally, he was quick to urge fellow ressetled farmers not to only depend on government support.

"To mention, this farm is worth almost N$5 to N$6-million if you put it in monetary terms. But after giving these things, the people also still want the government to come and do this and that. And this is not fair to our government which is doing tremendous work to uplift the standard of our people."

Stephanus currently farms with small and large livestock, but plans to expand into horticulture and piggery.