The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Ruthy Masake has called upon the farming community in the Omaheke Region to improve productivity and develop value chains.

Masake made this remark during the opening of the Epukiro Business and Agricultural Expo.
Masake pointed out that farmers must be supported not only as producers but also as entrepreneurs.

She said expos such as this one are important, as they harmonise farmers in building commercial relationships.

"Our responsibility as a government is therefore to create an enabling environment in which Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can access finance, markets, technology, infrastructures, skills and information. The Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) seeks to increase employment and diversify the economy; its agricultural strategy specifically includes modernising and diversifying agricultural production, promoting agro processing and supporting investment in agriculture."

The Chairperson of the Omaheke Regional Council, Rocco Nguvauva, pledged support towards the hosting of platforms such as these.

"We want to grow our local economy. When we have exposed people selling products, tents are hired, food is sold, transport is used, and money moves in our towns and villages, small businesses get a chance to grow. Thirdly, we want to encourage young people; when young people see successful farmers and business owners, they get hope."

Finance Minister Erica Shafudah acknowledged the importance of the agricultural sector to the country's economy.

"When your asking the government how do you address social economic challenges we answer you to say we use the tool call the national budged and it is very critical for all of us to have an appreciation of what is contained in a budged of a particular financial year."

Farmer Edison Katjipuka requested support to access markets.

"We want we want our government to able to assist us to market our products and also we have spoken about he issue of land the views of the farmers here government will never be able to resolve the issue of land if resettlement is the only project that they have impacted on we have spoken about the issue of drilling , issues of buying farms."

This year the Epukiro business and agricultural expo is held under the theme "Repositioning agriculture and SMEs from tradition to drivers of wealth and sustainability."