Newly elected board instructed to strike a right balance in exercising of its powers.
The Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) welcomed a new board. The inaugural session of the new members took place by the end of June in Windhoek. The previous board was chaired by Michael Iyambo and Marina Muller as the vice-chairperson. In the newly elected board, Hubertus Hamm is the current chairperson and Marina Muller still serving as the vice-chairperson. The new board is expected to serve for the next three (3) years.
The objectives of the board are to promote the agronomic industry and to facilitate the production, processing, storage and marketing of controlled products in Namibia. The power of the board are wide ranging including all the fiduciary powers required to manage a statutory regulator , and specifically powers to manage declared agronomic products and the respective value chains.
At the inauguration; the minister of agriculture Calle H Schlettwein thanked the outgoing board for the excellent work they have done during their extended term.
Agriculture and specifically the agronomic sector offers the best economic opportunities for job creation, for improved livelihoods and for youth employment.
The minister encouraged the new members to focus support on the thousands of small scale horticultural and agronomic producers in order to improve their productivity, the links and access to well-paying markets. Only then will we successfully bring about less inequality with improved standard of living, he said.
Calle further emphasised that no one should be hungry in the land of the brave and therefore food prices should not breach affordability thresholds. The newly board was also instructed to strike a balance in exercising of its powers. This means, while promoting the development and growth of the entire Namibian agronomic sector value chains (that is from production, processing, marketing and distribution) , it must also ensure that such growth and development is inclusive and empowering of the previously disadvantaged Namibians, youth & women and very importantly to prioritise that food remains affordable.
The new board members include: Gerhard Engelbrecht, Peter Kawana, Salomo Mbai, Jacob Hamutenya, Sonja Molebugi, Maria Pogisho, Ruthy Masake and Violet Simataa.