Page 29 - UNAM Annual Report 2017
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g) Neudamm Campus different conditions. In addition, the agronomy
Neudamm Campus provides human resource section has been managing trials on the use of
capital to the agriculture sector in Namibia. bio char for growing various vegetables and to
The Campus is a training hub for agriculture assess water consumption. In order to address
and a leading agriculture research campus in the shortage of fertiliser, rehabilitate overutilised
central Namibia. The Campus hosts the Faculty land and improve household food productivity,
of Agriculture and Natural Resources, which the agronomy section established a successful
consists of the Departments of Food Science vermicomposting programme. At present, 1 000
and Technology, Animal Science, Agricultural kg of natural compost can be harvest monthly
Economics and the School of Veterinary at Neudamm. The compost is being assessed
Medicine. for weeds and water retention capacity. The
information could be shared with farmers during
The Neudamm farm consists of 10 187 hectares community engagements, so that farmers can
of farmland, which is used extensively for cultivate those selected varieties.
livestock production, particularly, breeding a
registered stud of Kalahari Red and Boer goat, The Campus adds value to raw produce on the
Dorper, Damara and Swakara sheep, and Nguni, farm. Dairy products, such as fresh milk, Omaere,
Afrikaner and Simmentaler cattle. In addition, the butter and yoghurt, vegetables and eggs are
farm has an Arabic horse breed, Friesian dairy processed and packaged on the farm. The meat
cows, pigs and poultry, and practices agronomy. processing unit adds value to beef produced
on the farm. In order to improve biosafety, the
Neudamm farm is well known and acknowledged abattoir, dairy, poultry house, piggery, meat
for its excellent breeding programme of various processing units and the agronomy section were
stud animals. Afrikaner, Nguni and Simmentaler renovated to meet the minimum standards of
cattle are registered with various breeding biosecurity.
associations. The registrations enable the farm
to select its best animals for breeding, to keep h) Ogongo Campus
pure breed lines. The Kalahari Red and Boer goat Ogongo Campus is host to four programmes of the
breeds are also registered with the respective Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The
breeders’ associations. In order to maintain high diversity of research emanating from the campus
quality breeding genetic material in Namibia, the can be credited not only to the capabilities of
farm offers some of its selected breeding stock on qualified academics at the Campus, but also to
annual auction. Farmers across the country buy their enthusiasm to resolve real-world problems,
both male and female animals from Neudamm such as food insecurity. Moreover, the Campus’s
to improve their breeding stock. The quality of the 4 300 ha farm makes it possible to conduct
livestock breeding programme is also assessed research, do production and contribute to third-
through competing in various agricultural shows stream income for the University through various
across the country, in particular the Windhoek farming enterprises, such as beef, dairy, poultry
Agricultural Show. The beef animals are not bred products, the nursery and various irrigated crops.
for their genetics, but for meat production, for
which purpose the farm is also experimenting with Despite the production as listed above, 1 000 ha
cross breeding. Good results have been observed of the Campus is used primarily as a game farm,
in cross breeding Damara and Dorper sheep, as which enables the University to contribute to the
well as Afrikaner and Simmentaler cattle. conservation of land. Indeed, local research
indicates that the Ogongo Game Park is a
The agronomy section has been experimenting unique ecosystem, as it is the only part of the
with the cultivation of tomatoes and green Cuvelai delta under protection, and serves as a
pepper varieties. The purpose of the trials is sanctuary for many species of birds that are rare
to assess which varieties grow better under in the surrounding area. Satellite imagery shows
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