Bank Windhoek and Agra Co-operative have announced the formation of a partnership that will benefit farm workers as well as commercial and emerging farmers. The partnership, announced this week, introduces livestock owners to the Agra/Bank Windhoek Veterinary First Aid Kit, a training and development initiative that will equip farmers with essential information and animal care items.

James Hill, Managing Director of Bank Windhoek Ltd, Peter Kazmaier, Chief Executive Officer of Agra Co-operative, Sara Shikongo, Member of the Board of Directors at Agra Co-operative, and Honourable Nangolo Mbumba, Minister of Education.

“Animal health forms an important part of managing a farm sustainably and profitably and as an extension of our current community training initiatives, Agra has developed a typical veterinary first aid kit for livestock farmers” said Dr Rainer Hassel, Agra’s animal scientist.
The price for good health can be very high, often resulting in improper care of animals. Agra has, therefore, developed veterinary first aid kits to assist livestock owners in caring for their animals. Bank Windhoek has agreed to subsidise 100 of these Veterinary First Aid Kits to a total value of N$50 000, thereby making animal health care more affordable to those who need it most.
The Veterinary First Aid Kit was compiled by Agra to provide the farmer with a ready to use set of instruments, equipment, remedies and drugs to enable him/her to examine an animal, apply first aid and treat certain conditions and diseases on the farm in the absence of veterinary professional help or until such time that help can be rendered by a veterinarian. This kit also enables the farmer to collect certain minimum data like body temperature or basic samples like blood smears, which are very important for the consulting veterinarian to make a diagnosis and give advice.
Through the generous contribution of Bank Windhoek, the subsidized kits are available at N$2 100 excluding VAT per kit to emerging farmers attending the Agra public lectures, Agra/CCF farm workers’ courses and the CCF large stock management courses supported by Agra.
Agra’s Chief Executive Officer, Peter Kazmaier said: “Like any other industry, farming methods and best practices change continuously. What was applicable today might no longer be appropriate tomorrow”.
By introducing the Veterinary First Aid Kit to farmers, this will assist them to improve in applying best farming methods.