Agriculture benefits all people – Nandi-Ndaitwah

Deputy prime minister and minister of international relations Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has commended the increasing recognition of the agricultural sector.

“There was a time when agriculture was looked down upon; people shunned agriculture. In fact, people would laugh at those doing agricultural studies at tertiary level,” Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said.

Officiating at the third Omaludi festival at Okongo in the Ohangwena region on Wednesday, Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is also a patron of the festival, said agriculture is so strategic it involves and benefits all people.

“Agriculture is a very strategic sector. Whether one is skilled or unskilled, educated or uneducated, they can all partake and benefit from agriculture. I am happy that agriculture is being recognised,” she said.
The festival, which attracted farmers, cattle herders and the community from the region, was preceded by a livestock show where participating cattle herders paraded their cattle, while women ulutated and danced.

Nandi-Ndaitwah reiterated the need to appreciate farmers and cattle herders.

“We really need to show more appreciation and respect towards our farmers and cattle herders, these are the people who feed us. By design, Omaludi is a form of appreciation and encouragement for one to work harder. The objective of this festival is to boost Okongo’s local economy by creating a platform for locals and visiting farmers to network and showcase their crops, livestock and other agricultural products and services,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.