Namibia: Villagers Claim Council Impounds, Starves Livestock

SOME livestock owners, whose animals are constantly impounded by the Oshakati Town Council, said their animals are starved and secretly buried.

Pensioner Martha Nghidishange (74), who lives in Okaku Village just a few metres from the kraal where the impounded animals are kept, had her 40 goats taken on account of wandering around town two weeks ago.

Nghidishange said the goats were impounded while they were searching for water near the Kandjengedi Bridge and she claims that she was not notified. Her niece, she said, alerted her.

"I had to sell one to pay for the release of the goats," she said, adding that she paid N$360 to the town council to free her livestock.

Last week Friday, the town council impounded 34 of her goats again, which were kept in the kraal until yesterday.

"These people are making me suffer. I do not know why they are treating me like this. They took my goats before and now they have impounded them again," she stated, adding that she has run out of money to pay to have her animals released.

She furthermore accused the council of starving the animals, which, according to her, resulted in some dying over the past few days.

"I have seen a cow and two goats lying dead in the kraal on Sunday. I saw them with my own eyes," she said, expressing doubts as to whether animal owners are notified when their animals die.

BH Ipinge also had his cattle taken after they were found being driven home at Okaku Kiipupu Village also close to the town last week.

"They took the animals into the kraal. Who do they think they are? In fact, they use bad language towards our people," he said.

Namibian flag

When The Namibian visited on Monday, there was no food or water in the kraal, and the animals looked hungry. There was a carcass that hung from a thorn tree inside the kraal.

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Food Waste,

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Tanzania Livestock Master Plan

A roast meat vendor

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President Buhari

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South African

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FAO

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Cover Crops in the Corn Belt: An Interview with Sarah Carlson

Sarah Carlson is the Midwest Cover Crop Director at Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI). Since 1985, PFI has facilitated farmer-led research and information sharing to help farmers from all backgrounds practice agriculture that benefits both people and the environment. Since joining PFI in 2007, Sarah has worked to promote the latest agronomic research on cover crops and small grains by conducting supply chain projects and publishing research reports. Additionally, Sarah uses her own experience as a trained agronomist and past results of on-farm research projects to help design solutions to integrated crop and livestock concerns.

farmer

Food Farm News had the opportunity to speak to Sarah about her work with PFI, their efforts to support Iowan farmers, and what farmers are doing today to create more sustainable farming systems.