The Challenges of Agribusiness Training on Livestock Farmers in Namibia

抄録

Although contributing only less than five percent to GDP, agriculture remains one of the top employers in Namibia, with livestock production being the top earner. The national agriculture policy has highlighted the lack of capacity as one of the constraints in the industry. Both private and public training institutions in Namibia have had numerous training such as rangeland management, farm infrastructure, and animal health, and seldom focus on the postproduction activities such as markets and marketing. This study aimed to assess the challenges of agribusiness training in Namibia as identified by livestock farmers. An in-depth literature review on Namibian agribusiness training looking at national policies that address agricultural training and farm survey using a structured questionnaire was conducted. The 33 respondents were from three regions of Namibia: Erongo, Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions, and three land tenures: communal, commercial, and resettlement farms. Natural phenomena including drought and lack of water were crucial challenges identified by livestock farmers. Other challenges such as access to markets, few buyers in the market, and lack of coordination were among the critical agribusiness factors highlighted by most farmers. Commercial farmers were the main market of communal livestock which are considered of low quality. Communal livestock farmers lamented the lack of market options available. Thus, Namibia needs to implement a training policy that captures aspects of livestock marketing that integrates various levels of farmers from communal level to the commercial level.