The Kavango West Farmers Union has launched a regional outreach campaign to engage farmers and address challenges affecting agricultural production.
The latest engagement was held in Tondoro Constituency.
Participants raised concerns about high transport costs, limited access to farming support programmes, and other challenges affecting productivity.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to educate farmers about the government's agricultural subsidy programme.
The Chairperson of the Kavango West Farmers Union, Johannes Hausiku, said the union aims to strengthen agricultural production by creating market opportunities for local farmers.
He said the long-term vision is for every constituency to establish a marketing centre.
"We want to promote the work of farmers, advertise their products, and identify those producing high-quality goods. This way, we can effectively promote our produce. We aim for each constituency to have a designated area where farmers can identify suitable land."
Representing the Tondoro Constituency Councillor, Constituency Control Administrative Officer Engelberth Kandjeke encouraged the union to expand the programme.
"Because some of them, indeed, are very far from some of the information. But when you do this kind of engagement, indeed, it brings them to have the information. So it's a very good thing, and thank you so much. And you are welcome in our constituency."
Among those who attended the engagement was the senior headman of Mburu-uru Village, Sikumbu Thomas, who expressed appreciation for the initiative.
However, he highlighted challenges faced by farmers in the community, saying the transportation of produce from farming areas to marketplaces remains one of the major obstacles affecting agricultural activities.
"I am very happy for the engagement because we who are deep inland do not have information on how things are being done. Now that engagements are coming, people will learn how to market their produce. But the problem we have here, even when we want to take our produce to AMTA, is that transportation is a big challenge from Umburu-uru to Kahenge."
Hausiku further called on farmers to join the union to strengthen their collective voice and ensure their concerns are effectively communicated.
The outreach programme will continue across all constituencies, after which a comprehensive report will be submitted to address challenges affecting agricultural production in the region.