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| The Oshikoto region consists of a land area of 38,653 km2 (3,865,300 ha) of which more than
seventy percent is utilised for agricultural purposes. It is a known fact that agriculture plays a
vital role in improving not only the rural livelihoods but also of those people living in urban
areas. The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development’s (MAWRD) mission is to
promote and facilitate environmentally sustainable development, management and utilisation
of water and agricultural resources to achieve sound socio-economic development together
with all citizens of this country. As far as agriculture is concerned in Oshikoto region, it is
diverse.
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| Farming in Oshikoto region is mainly dominated by cattle and goat farming, with large numbers
of animals found in the communal areas to the north of the VCF. Despite a large number of
animals in these areas, the off-take is extremely low due in part to the high marketing costs
involved, particularly the costs associated with prolonged quarantining and transportation costs.
The main cattle breeds in Oshikoto Region are the indigenous Sanga/Nguni and their crosses
with Brahman, Bonsmara, Afrikander and Simmentaler.
The average
annual rainfall varies from 550-660mm (Mendelsohn, et al. 2000) per year in the wettest
areas (northeast and around Tsumeb) to below 500mm in the central and western parts of the
region. Recent studies have found that most of the moist, rain-carrying air blows from the
north and north-east hence causing the areas in this part of the region to receive not only the
first rain but also more rainfall during the rainy seasons.
Oshikoto is suitable for Local Dual Purpose goats and Chicken( Small Stocks)
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