Meat Board’s Farmers’ Mentorship Programme warns that cattle farming in the northern communal areas seems to be bursting at the seams. Fears are that cattle are increasing faster than grazing fields can recover. The manager of a Farmers’ Mentorship Programme of Meat Board of Namibia, Gizaw Negussie, says the rate at which aspiring farmers develop their herds, threatens to extend beyond the capacity of supplies available to help them. Negussie spoke to NBC in a Radio Current Affairs programme on Thursday, saying Agra, regional and national farmers’ unions and the Meat Board, have taught northern communal farmers how to dehorn calves at a young age. With assistance, farmers have the knowledge of brand-marking and ear-tagging of their livestock. There is a much increased demand for syringes, needles and basic medicines to treat cattle. Fourteen experienced mentors from the Meat Board have been reaching out to some 900 farmers in the past seven years in Rundu, Ongwediva and Katima Mulilo. In May this year, 294 farmers turned up at a regional information session, showing keen interest in changing from traditional farming methods to becoming commercially orientated. Negussie warns that farmers should consider the carrying capacity of their land when planning their livestock breeding activities.