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No agricultural show can take place smoothly without the
participation of Agra Cooperative. Agra is the country's leading agricultural
cooperative that offers animal auction services, veterinary services and retail
shops where farmers can purchase their farming implements, from hoes to seeds.
As one communal farmers’ cooperative puts it, Agra has
established itself among farmers with a reputable business ethics.
Agra participated in all the shows, at Keetmanshoop,
Stampriet, Okakarara, Grootfontein, Rehoboth, Otjiwarongo, Gobabis, and is
going to participate in the up coming Windhoek Show.
Recently Agra, in partnership with the Cheetah Conservation
Fund (CCF), presented practical farming courses tailored to suit the specific
needs of farm workers.
The course follows that of 2006 on the same topic. To date,
a total of 113 farm workers and farmers have been provided with the unique
opportunity of gaining additional farming knowledge and skills to improve their
productivity and that of their agricultural operations.
The latest offering was a one-day public lecture on 9 August
at the Agra/Standard Bank Ring for emerging farmers, weekend farmers and
farmers who are interested in learning the basic principles of practical
farming. The public lecture was officially opened by Nangolo Mbumba, Minister
of Education.
Mbumba referred to the partnership between Agra and the CCF,
highlighting the link between conservation and economic goals.
“While farming may be considered mainly an economic
activity, if applied properly, conservation plays an important role in managing
our resources to achieve conservation as well as economic goals” Mbumba said.
Agra’s CEO, Peter Kazmaier, said that “since Agra’s
inception more than 27 years ago, Agra has always been a trusted partner of the
local farming community. From Agra’s side we would like to assure you that we
shall continue to remain a partner as long as we have a role to play, a
contribution to make and as long as we can offer a realistic business service
to the farming community”.
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