Turning invader bush into animal fodder

Turning invader bush into animal fodder NAMPA

The University of Namibia has received approximately N$1.5 million from the government of Finland for a project that aims to process encroaching bush into fodder for livestock.

The project will develop cheaper fodder that is in high demand and generally imported at higher cost.

Unam and the Finnish embassy in Namibia signed the funding agreement in Windhoek on 30 November.

Signing of behalf of the university, vice-chancellor Lazarus Hangula said the project was geared towards ensuring food security, using encroacher bush that has over the years cost the economy in excess of N$1.3 billion per year.

“The success of this project will mean success of the livestock sector which will improve the livelihood and the economy as new markets for our beef are being secured in countries such as China, Malaysia, USA and Russia,” said Hangula.

The Finnish ambassador to Namibia, Anne Saloranta, said her government’s Fund for Local Cooperation (FLC) plays a central role in its development aid in Namibia.

“FLC enables local non-governmental organisations, institutions and companies who might have a solid project plan but lack financial support to implement and take action in addressing barriers to development that are considered contextually relevant and timely,” Saloranta said.

Supplementary feeds are usually imported into Namibia and are expensive, making them unaffordable for many rural settlements and emerging livestock farmers.

This project is in line with Namibia’s development plan of developing a sustainable agricultural sector and creating local production.