By:Nghiinomenwa-vali Erastus
From 1990, the government, through its Land Reform Programme, has bought 3,4 million hectares of land (571 farms) at the cost of N$2,4 billion.
It has resettled 5,458 beneficiaries after the first land conference in 1991.
This is contained in the Land Reform Statistics for the 2021/2022 financial year issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Waterand Land Reform with assistance from GIZ.
Due to colonial injustice, which was mostly embedded in resource ownership such as land, the government has embarked on acquiring land from various owners who acquired them during the discriminatory colonial era.
According to the Ministry, the government had targeted to acquire five million hectares of agricultural land since independence by 2020.
So far only, 3, 4 million hectares of land (69%) has been acquired in the 32 years – 1,6 million hectares are yet to be acquired in order to reach its agricultural land acquisition goal.
Since the first land conference in 1991 to 31 March 2022, at least 5,458 beneficiaries – including 2,188 males, 1,485 females and 30 juristic entities were settled.
For the 1,755 beneficiaries the gender was not recorded as these are group Resettlement and San Development projects under the Office of the President.
Beyond the government initiative to acquire farmland and resettle people, the government has also launched Affirmative Action Loan Scheme which has been used as a gateway for previously economically disadvantaged to purchase agricultural land.
According to the Land Reforms Statistics, the government has dished out through its agency, N$726,6 million to 562 individuals to go buy commercial agricultural land.
These individuals have used their Affirmative Action Loan Scheme funding to acquire 3,1 million hectares of agricultural land- more of this land (541,746 ha) was bought in 2003 and it was the year more Affirmative Action Loan Scheme loans (98) were disbursed, valued at N$156,1 million.
During the financial year 2021/2022 the government was offered 394 farms to buy by private owners as required by the law that the private owners should offer the farms to the government first before going to the market.
The government has only acquired five farms ( 32 771,5ha), which were acquired at the cost of N$55,5 million.
On average each of the acquired five farms commanded around N$11,1 million from the Ministry, the statistics show.
In terms of resettlement for the 2021/22 financial year, the government has resettled 20 people through its National Resettlement Programme.
More of the 20 resettled beneficiaries were from Khomas (4), and Ohangwena (3), the rest of the regions had 2 or 1 beneficiary.
Email: erastus@thevillager.com.na
Government Forked Out N$2,4 Billion For Resettlement Farms
