Farmers go digital

Namibia's farmers leapt across the digital divide on Friday following the launch of an innovative computer-based information network aimed at equipping them with the latest in agricultural research.

The joint project between the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and Namibia's Department of Agriculture would provide communal farmers with much-needed information on weather conditions, auction days, crop and livestock prices and outbreaks of animal disease.

"This project is the first of its kind in the world. Despite the mountain of research being done by the country's researchers, farmers were only receiving very little of it. This project aims to fill that information gap," Department of Agriculture spokesman, Sebastien Uhihama, told IRIN.

During the 18-month pilot phase, about 90 farmers will be trained by 50 researchers in information retrieval and dissemination. Farmers are expected to share this information with other communal farmers in the region.

The government has set up three pilot sites in Omaheke, Okavango and Omusati. Information will be available in the country's 11 languages.

The initiative is an attempt by government to get farmers more involved in the formulation of new farming methods and techniques.

Uhihama said: "Since farmers are the ones most affected by government policies, it was imperative to place them at the centre of the project. The content provided will be specific to each region. Hopefully, the programme will help us identify problem areas."

Namibia, like several southern African countries, is facing food shortages as a result of drought conditions. A recent assessment by the country's Emergency Management Unit (EMU) said that nearly 500,000 people would require emergency food aid in the coming months.

An estimated 42 percent of Namibia's labour force is employed in the agricultural sector.