AGRA SUPPORTS HOSTORIC AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE IN NAMIBIA
Published: 05 Aug 2013 

Agra is one of the main sponsors at the historic Outlook Conference being organised by the Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO) which is celebrating its 50th anniversary on the 9th of October 2013. The conference is aimed at the livestock sector under the theme “Cornerstone for growth”.

The general focus of the conference will be on agriculture in a globalised market, with specific reference to how the Namibian agricultural sector should adapt to these changing realities. The strategic importance of agriculture is recognised in the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP4) and the Namibian Industrial Policy, for its crucial role in employment creation and the contribution to secondary employment through
its inputs to agro-industries such as meat processing, milling and beverages.

Informative sessions at the conference will include the macro-economic outlook for the industry, industrialising agriculture in Namibia, the weather and climate outlook and the marketing environment for the livestock sector. The keynote speakers include the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, as well as the Honourable Minister of Trade and Industry. In addition, high profile speakers will include Mr Dawie Roodt (Efficient Group, South Africa), Prof Nick Vink (University of Stellenbosch), Prof Louw Hoffman (University of Stellenbosch), Dr Japie van Zyl (Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Pasadena, California), Dr Willem Landman (weather forecaster; University of Pretoria) and Mr Charl Senekal (South African farmer) to ensure the utmost of informative sessions for the day.

National, regional and international delegates from governments, producer organisations, agriculture businesses, agro-industries, the media and other interested role players from various agricultural backgrounds will be part of the conference taking place in the capital.

This would be the first time that Namibia will host an Outlook Conference of this nature and given the relevancy of the chosen theme, Agra is committed to being part of an initiative that involves more than 300 role players from the primary, secondary and tertiary agricultural sectors that the conference is expected to include.

Although agriculture’s contribution to the Namibian GDP seems relatively minor compared to some other sectors such as mining and tourism, it is important to note that 29 % of the total population indicates subsistence farming as their main source of income, while in rural areas the corresponding figure stands at 48 %. Agricultural product exports contribute roughly 10.7% to the total Namibian exports.

“We support initiatives that will ultimately benefit the agricultural industry and the country as a whole. We believe participatory involvement and insights from various areas of expertise is of the greatest value for our growing agricultural and agriculture related sectors. This conference presents a participatory opportunity for development and Agra is tremendously proud to be part of this historic opportunity for growth” said
Agra Senior Marketing Manager, Abelene Boer.