Last week, Namibia's four agricultural unions launched the "One Nation. One Herd. One Responsibility." leadership campaign. The aim of the campaign is to unite all livestock producers in protecting our livestock industry against the growing threat of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). Earlier this year, the four agricultural unions also established the FMD Support Fund to strengthen Namibia's ability to prevent and prepare for FMD. The Fund is a non-profit Section 21 company tha

Rabies is one of the few diseases in veterinary and human medicine that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but it is also one of the most preventable. For farmers, farm workers, hunters, veterinarians and anyone else who regularly handles domestic or wild animals, this makes prevention a matter of real, practical importance. The risk is real, and dogs are not the only threat Globally, dog bites cause the great majority of human rabies deaths – around 99% of cases

Namibia still has infestations of Parthenium hysterophorus and farmers are urged to help eradicate it while there is still a window to do so. The weed is widely regarded by researchers as one of the most damaging invasive species in Africa. The National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) is working to address this threat and needs farmers and landowners to report all known locations of the weed. Where mature seeds have already dropped to the ground, serious spread can be exp

On Friday, 12 June members of the Joint Crime Prevention Forum (JCPF) met with senior police leadership for a constructive session focused on rural safety and agricultural security. The meeting was led by Major General Elias Mutota and brought together police heads from the various regions, supported by a strong contingent from the national office in Windhoek. The management of three of the four agricultural unions attended, along with five farming districts representing th

You might remember that last year (+/- from mid-April until the end of May) we had a lot of giraffe mortalities in Namibia. Many farmers reported finding dead giraffes and several reported seeing sick giraffes that were behaving abnormally. Here is a quick summary of the symptoms that were observed: Physical signs: Many farmers reported sick giraffes with drooping/hanging ears. A few observed excessive drooling, discharge from the eyes and some reported that the giraffes se

As we approach the Easter season, we are reminded of a time that holds deep meaning for many of us. It is a time of hope. For those who celebrate Easter as part of their Christian faith, we commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ — a powerful reminder of life after hardship and light after darkness. In agriculture, we live this truth every day. We work with the rhythm of the seasons, through times of uncertainty and times of growth, of patience and of perseverance.