Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform received 11 4×4 Double Cab vehicles, valued at N$6 355 000 in total, from the European Union (EU).
The vehicles were handed over by the EU Ambassador to Namibia, Sinikka Antila, who said that the handover demonstrates the effective collaboration between the government of Namibia and the European Union (EU). Antila explained that the 11 vehicles are the first of 25 vehicles planned under the Livestock Support Programme (LSP). The remaining 14 vehicles, she revealed, will be delivered next year. This will include five 30-ton trucks with trailers.
The 11 vehicles were procured under the LSP in the Northern Communal Areas (NCA), which is funded by the EU through the Eleventh European Development Fund (EDF 11). Antila said that the vehicles are intended to be used for ensuring animal health through effective disease surveillance.
“It is my sincere hope that all these vehicles will be fully utilised to develop and manage the livestock sector value chain, and will lead towards support to livelihoods and to the uplifting of many farmers in the NCAs. Also, equally, to contribute to the Namibian economy,” Antila said.
The Minister of Agriculture, Calle Schlettwein, accepted the vehicles on behalf of the ministry, assuring that the vehicles will assist the veterinary department to maintain the health status of livestock. He emphasised that the LSP is a key element in the EU-Namibia cooperation.
“We are not only recipients through development aid in agriculture, but we are also trade partners in the commodities that agriculture is producing,” Schlettwein said.
The objective of the LSP is to promote entrepreneurship and enhance the livelihood of NCAs livestock farming communities in a sustainable way, while improving the performance of livestock value chain in the NCA. The programme further aims to improve the performance of the livestock value chain in the NCA. Eight regions in the NCAs will benefit from the programme. This includes the Kunene (North of Veterinary Cordon Fence), Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Kavango West, Kavango East and Zambezi regions.
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