The NNFU (Namibia National Farmers Union) this week held its annual Congress under the theme “Organised agriculture – the future hub for economic growth in the agricultural sector”. The Congress was officially opened on Thursday, August 30, 2007 evening by the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry who read the speech of President Pohamba. In between he also gave certain guidelines of the Ministry. He inter alia clearly put that the veterinary cordon fence (red line) forms an important part of the animal sickness control system in Namibia and that the red line will not be pulled down. The systematic moving of the line towards the North can be looked at. He further encouraged farmers to make plans themselves during drought periods and not to always wait for assistance from government.
The president of the NAU, Mr Raimar von Hase  referred to the importance of agriculture and that governments’ in Southern Africa should allocate a bigger part of the national budget for agriculture. He also referred to the upcoming conference between the Executive Councils of the NAU and NNFU on September 25, 2007 during which it will be reflected about the future of organised agriculture in Namibia.