The community of Talismanus in the Omaheke Region’s Otjombinde Constituency on Thursday received a state-of-the-art livestock marketing facility from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Namibian Government. The facility, which will also serve neighbouring areas, has an auction kraal which caters for small livestock (sheep and goats) and big livestock (cattle). The facility was constructed through the Sustainable Management of Namibia’s Forested Lands (NAFOLA) project, which was funded by the Global Environment Facility in partnership with UNDP to the tune of N$9,2 million. Speaking during the launch, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Alpheus !Naruseb urged local farmers and livestock traders to use the kraal to encourage livestock marketing in the region. The minister further advised farmers to manage their livestock sustainably by reducing their numbers through trading. This would also help avoid overgrazing, which according to !Naruseb is one of the challenges identified during the formulation stage of the NAFOLA project. It would in addition help curb major losses through high amounts of livestock dying during droughts. On her part, UNDP country representative Alka Bhatia said the construction of the livestock marketing facility is an example of how UNDP, government and local stakeholders can work together to deliver on the promise to improve the lives of citizens. “As the UNDP, we are convinced that this facility will be used for its intended purpose, such that it will contribute to increased livestock takeoff, further contributing to the reduction of livestock pressure on the forestry resources in this constituency,” said Bhatia. Issy Kamutueze, a farmer from Otjombinde welcomed the facility, saying he is grateful for the construction of such a facility as it is an improvement on what the community previously used to trade their livestock. Charles Hambira, another farmer from the constituency, echoed his sentiments, noting that the facility will provide much-needed safety for their livestock during auctions. “The kraal is very well constructed. Although the prices at which we are selling our cattle are not as high as they used to be because the animals are still recovering from drought, I am happy that we have a place of this standard to market our livestock,” he said. -NAMPA