Staff Reporter
THE Small Stock Revolving Scheme facilitated the redistribution of 253 sheep in the Hardap Region—specifically 13 rams and 240 ewes—during the 2025/26 financial year, with further redistribution expected in the 2026/27 financial year.
This was announced by the Governor of the Hardap Region, Riaan Charles McNab, during his recent State of the Region Address (SORA) in Mariental. He also announced that an additional redistribution of 160 ewes and eight rams is planned for the 2026/27 financial year, expected to benefit eight farmers.
The Small Stock Revolving Scheme is a poverty-alleviation and climate-resilience initiative driven by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF). It aims to provide vulnerable communal farmers with high-quality core breeding flocks, such as sheep and goats, to generate sustainable income and enhance food security.
McNab noted that these are not the only agriculture-related developments the region has benefited from over the past year.
He reported that a total of 1,187 farmers received training in various agricultural fields. He further revealed that, under the national horticulture value chain, N$1.1 million was allocated to benefit 76 farmers—48 men and 28 women—through the provision of production inputs, materials, and equipment. He also said the poultry value chain development scheme received N$360,000 and supported 49 farmers (21 men and 28 women), with funds fully utilised within 40 days.
“The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, launched the Japan-funded resilience project titled ‘Enhancing Resilience of Farming Communities Affected by Drought through the Promotion of Adaptive Agriculture’. This was launched in December 2025. The project aims to support 1,200 farmers, particularly youth and women, with agro-input packages, livestock, small-scale irrigation, and water-harvesting technology,” he said.
McNab also announced that the Dairy Value Chain Development Scheme was allocated N$1.4 million and supported 11 farmers in the region. Meanwhile, he revealed that a total of 136 hectares were ploughed in the region under the Namibia Agriculture Mechanisation Seed and Improvement Programme, benefiting 62 farmers through ripping, ploughing, discing, cutting, raking, and baling.
“Furthermore, under the Comprehensive Conservation Agriculture Programme 2, three demonstration plots were established in Gibeon, New-Haribes, and Hoachanas, with an estimated investment of N$190,000, scheduled for completion in the 2026/27 financial year,” McNab continued.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: MICT Hardap Regional Office.
