Background
Agricultural information is not easily available in Namibia. Macro information on prices, production volumes of the various commodities such as large- and small stock, agronomic-, dairy products, and charcoal as well as agricultural debt is compiled by organisations such as the NAU, Meat Board, Agronomic Board, Karakul Board and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Information about micro developments in the agricultural industry is not available at all, besides some estimates made by various consultants and financial institutions.

AGRISTAT
In 1999 the LPO started promoting study groups amongst producers in Namibia. Producers agree that study groups are a very important way to improve the profitability and long term sustainability of commercial farming.

The LPO together with all study groups in Namibia as well as the local extension officials developed a computer model. This model is used to collect production and financial information from individual producers with different production systems. Furthermore it is the aim: To measure is to know! With other words the effectiveness and efficiency of farming must improve in order to realise increased production and profits.

The name of this program is AGRISTAT and is used to analyse production and financial information and to compare this on individual as well as national level. Producers however must take note that the AGRISTAT program is based on an anonymous basis and that confidentiality of the information/data is guaranteed. Study groups as well as individual persons can take part.

Information will be shared annually with participants by way of information days.
Information can also be used for applications for loans at banks but also to verify the real production potential in regions/areas – land tax.

Advantages of the AGRISTAT program:

• Production values such as production affectivity, re-production percentages, carrying capacity, herd compilation, stocking, etc
• Gross margin analysis and profitability of the various production systems, for example weaner production, cow/ox production, ox production
• Gross income/ha, gross income/kg produced
• Gross expenditure .....
• Net profit ...
• Gross expenditure as % of gross income
• Labour-, petrol-, feed/lick-, medicine costs, repairs and interest, etc 
• Construe results
• Proportion analysis / proportions such as solvency, liquidity, profitability, effectiveness relation
• comparing of historic results
• comparing on national level – NAU
  

The NAU plans to offer the course in Windhoek each third week (Mondays and Tuesdays) of a month. The course will be for 2 days in order to ensure that producers get sufficient exposure to get the complexity of the program.

Any person who is intrested in being a mentor (to assist on AGRISTAT in their area)  would be greatly appreciated by the office.  You can contact Harald Marggraff / Denise D’Alton, at Tel:  061-237838.
 

Agtergrond
Landbou inligting is nie geredelik in Namibia beskikbaar nie.  Makro inligting op pryse, produksie volumes van die verskeie bedrywe soos bv. groot- en kleinvee, akkerbou-, suiwelprodukte, houtskool sowel as landbou skuld word saamgestel deur instansies soos die NLU, Vleisraad, Akkerbouraad, Karakoelraad en die Ministerie van Landbou.

Inligting oor die mikro ontwikkelinge in die landbou industrie is egter glad nie beskikbaar nie, behalwe vir sommige skattinge gemaak deur verskeie konsultante en finansiële instansies.

AGRISTAT
Die LPO het in 1999 begin om studiegroepe onder produsente in Namibia te bevorder.  Produsente is dit eens dat studiegroepe ‘n baie belangrike manier is om die winsgewendheid en langtermyn volhoubaarheid van kommersiële boerderye te verbeter.

Die LPO tesame met al die studiegroepe in Namibia, asook die plaaslike voorligtingsamptenare het ‘n rekenaar model ontwikkel.  Hierdie model word gebruik om produksie en finansiële inligting van individuele produsente te versamel met verskillende produksie sisteme in die land.  Verder is die doel: om te meet is om te weet!  M.a.w. die doeltreffendheid en effektiwiteit van die boedery moet verbeter om daardeur verhoogde produksie en winste te kan realiseer.

Hierdie program se naam is AGRISTAT en word gebruik om produksie en finansiële inligting te analiseer en te vergelyk op individuele sowel as nasionale vlak.  Produsente moet egter asseblief kennis neem dat die AGRISTAT program gebaseer word op ‘n anonieme basis en dat die vertroulikheid van die inligting/data gewaarborg word.  Studiegroepe sowel as individuele persone kan deelneem.

Inligting sal jaarliks met deelnemers gedeel word, dmv. inligtingsdae.

Inligting kan ook gebruik word vir leningsaansoeke by banke, maar ook om by die regering die werklike produksie potensiaal van streke/gebiede te verifieer – grondbelasting.

Voordele van die AGRISTAT program

Indien persone bereid is om as mentor in hulle omgewing op te tree (om AGRISTAT in hul omgewing te bevorder d.m.v. bystand aan lede), sal dit van groot hulp wees en kan hulle die kantoor, Harald Marggraff / Denise D’Alton, skakel  by 061-237838.