African farming has been traditionally linked to the continent’s indigenous smallholder farmers who subject themselves to harsh weather conditions, limited capital, poor infrastructure, and a host of bureaucratic hurdles in their daily farm activities. While smallholder farming remains the mainstay of agriculture in most African countries, industrial or commercial farming is beginning to take root in some countries such as South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania.

The German Farm in Africa is one such venture that is successfully transforming the farming sector and creating job opportunities for the locals.

Introduction to The German Farm

The German Farm in Africa is a mixed farming venture located in the heart of Namibia’s capital, Windhoek.

The farm covers an area of 12,000 hectares and comprises of a large-scale cropping section, free range chicken egg production, pork, and beef production. The farm employs over 250 people and acts as both a centre for training and a model mixed-farming project for the local community.

The History of The German Farm

The German Farm was founded in 2003 by German investors who had a vision of creating a self-sufficient farm that would not only be profitable but also create job opportunities for the locals.

The farm started with crop production where maize, wheat, and barley were the main crops cultivated. However, by 2005, the farm had expanded its operations to include livestock farming, and by 2010, egg production, pork, and beef production had been added.

Cropping Section

The farming venture has managed to produce high-quality crops through its production of wheat, barley, and maize. The crops are grown under the guidance of experienced agronomists to ensure only the best practices are employed.

Through its irrigation and crop rotation systems, the farm has managed to produce high yeilding crops thereby ensuring food security in the country.

Livestock Farming Section

The livestock farming section at The German Farm is the most extensive and lucrative section of the farm. The farm has over 1,500 beef cattle, 1,000 pigs, and 5,000 free-range chickens.

The beef production section is responsible for the production of high-quality beef that is sold in Windhoek and exported to neighbouring countries such as Angola and South Africa.

On the other hand, the free-range chicken egg production section is responsible for the production of about 60,000 eggs daily, and these eggs are sold in Windhoek supermarkets and neighbourhood shops.

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The pork section produces high-quality pork that is sold in Windhoek and neighbouring countries such as Angola and South Africa.

The Farm’s Contribution to the Local Community

The German Farm has not only created job opportunities for the locals but has also helped in improving the living standards of the surrounding communities.

The farm provides training for the local community on its best-practice farming approaches and has even established a school on the farm.

Through the school, the farm has managed to train the locals in monitoing crops and livestock growth, effective animal husbandry, and the application of suitable chemicals and fertilizers.

The school also helps in improving literacy levels amongst the local children providing training in reading, writing, and arithmetic skills.

The Future of The German Farm in Africa

The German Farm in Africa has come a long way since its incorporation in 2003 and has achieved remarkable success in its farming operations. The farming venture continues to employ modern farming techniques to improve crop and livestock growth.

Through constant innovation, the farm aims to remain profitable and sustain jobs for the locals.

The future for The German Farm in Namibia is promising due to its ambitious expansion plans, which will see the farm venture into dairy farming.

The farm’s commitment to modern farming practices combined with their utilization of extensive farming land, will ensure that the farm remains one of the leading agriculture ventures in Africa.

The Bottom Line

The German Farm in Africa is a successful mixed farming venture that has created jobs and improved the standards of living for the locals.

The farm’s contribution to the local community is remarkable as they provide training and education to the locals while employing highly skilled staff to manage the farm operations. The farm’s expansion plans signal a bright future for commercial farming in Africa.