CEO's Report
Very early in the reporting year, there was the simultaneous appointment of Hon. John Mutorwa as Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry and Hon. Isak Katali as Deputy Minister.
A serious source of apprehension for the year was the possible outcome of further negotiations regarding the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU). It is general knowledge that the negotiations were not concluded during the reporting period, but meanwhile, Namibian beef, grapes and fish were allowed to be exported tariff-free and quota-free to the EU. Namibia will have to lobby and negotiate very skilfully during the coming year to conclude the EPA to the mutual benefit of all parties. The NAB, through the Namibian Agricultural Trade Forum (ATF) – a multi-stakeholder focus group for agricultural trade issues, is primed to continue to assist the Ministry of Trade and Industry to achieve what we consider as possible: a win-win outcome at all levels.
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Chairman's Report
This Annual Report gives an excellent overview of exactly how the Namibian Agronomic Board has strived to achieve its Objectives, Vision and Mission over the past financial year.
For producers of grain – mahangu, maize and wheat – and horticultural products, Namibia always presents a challenging production environment.
Floods and droughts can easily occur simultaneously and even within close geographic proximity, as we have seen for the past few years. Grain production, and especially mahangu surplus production, could seriously be hampered if we do not find alternatives and solutions in terms of crop insurance, production methods, cultivars, alternative crops, financing schemes and, of course, an effective and reliable market.
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