Agribusdev – Windhoek Observer

12 Sep

Don’t play political football with land issues

ObserverNational News, OpinionsAgribusdev, Carl Schlettwein, Don’t play political football with land issues, Green Schemes

The Green Schemes that were touted as Namibia’s blueprint to food self-sufficiency has failed and the government is now looking at a different management model to continue its strategy to make Namibia produce what its people consume. The company created in 2011 to run 11 Green Schemes, the Agricultural Business Development Agency, experienced serious governance, financial and operational deficiencies. In addition, the running of the Green Scheme according to the Minister of Agriculture, who was moved there in the second term of the current President’s term, observed that there were institutional challenges in the administration of the schemes. According to…

10 Oct

Remove the crutch of foreign consultants

ObserverNational NewsAgribusdev, Namibia Civil Aviation Authority, Namibians

There is nothing inherently wrong with hiring qualified foreign consultants for a specific task. The problem is that the country surrenders to these consultants rather than inculcate the skills. We do not ensure that our own people learn what is being done by consultants so that we need not import the same skills set repeatedly. Until we commit to using foreign skills only as a tool to strengthen the country, rather than a crutch to weaken it, this will be a controversial issue. This issue is not new; many have been complaining about Namibian dependence on foreign skills for decades.…

27 May

Govt probes Agribusdev

ObserverObserver MoneyAgribusdev, Ministry of Public Enterprise

Andrew Kathindi Government through the Ministry of Public Enterprise (MPE) has instituted a probe into the operations of Agricultural Business Development Agency (Agribusdev) the Windhoek Observer can reveal. The investigation comes amid increased concern over allegations of mismanagement and dubious tender awards at the government entity tasked improving the country’s food security. Public enterprise minister, Leon Jooste whose remit the Agribusdev now falls under, confirmed that an investigation had been commissioned to understand the core reasons behind government agency’s historic problems. The findings will guide the Ministry’s proposed interventions. “From Government’s side I can assure you that we are not…

30 Mar

Pressure mounts over AgriBusDev’s tender

ObserverObserver MoneyAgribusdev, Agricultural Business Development Agency

Staff Writer Local fertilizer producers have rubbished claims by the Agricultural Business Development Agency (AgriBusDev) Managing Director, Petrus Uugwanga that the country did not have local fertilizer producers and thus had no option but to award a multimillion-dollar fertilizer supply tender to South African company, Kynoch. One company that claims to be able to provide these products is Greenfield Organic Fertilizers (GOF). Based in Okahandja, this product provider has been in operation for years. According to the company’s owner, the business has the capacity to produce over 12 tons of organic fertilizer a day. This capacity makes them more than…