Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in South Africa, along with Mr John Mutorwa, Namibia Department of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to harmonise relations between the two countries 10 July 2009. “The interest in signing this MoU stems from both countries wanting to strengthen relations between the two countries,” said Minister Joemat-Pettersson. The MoU signed by the parties will be implemented by means of joint developmental programmes, without prejudice against other fields of cooperation that may be considered in the future. Areas covered in the MoU include: RSA/Namibia Agricultural Agreements Training of the Namibian veterinary students and Protection of the Karakul genetic materials. In the light of training veterinary students, Minister Mutorwa mentioned that it is crucial to Namibia to have trained students. “Before our independence we did not have universities, after we received our independence we established universities but they are not sufficient in training students,” he said. “It is a necessity specifically to veterinary training, but unfortunately we cannot guarantee people staying in Namibia after they've received the training,” he stated. Minister Joemat-Pettersson also assured that students who enrol for training will be assessed to make sure that they
have the spirit of patriotism.

“Patriotism is key, therefore students who need training are those who will plough back into their Namibian community as I am sure that Minister Mutorwa and his ministry will make sure by all means that they keep those trained students in Namibia,” she said.

Among other agreements in the MoU were:

• Animal health and production
• Plant health and production
• Research collaboration, food safety and aspects of agricultural products, especially the nutritional aspects of indigenous food
• Capacity building on animal and plant health (sanitary and phystosanity) matters
• Bilateral trade in agricultural products
• Food security
• Cooperation in multilateral issues
• Agricultural statistics
• Production economics and farming enterprise budgets
• Coordination of production and marketing programmes
• Conservation of indigenous plant and animal material
• Control of blackflies along the Orange River
• Cooperation (information exchange) on migrant pests
• Cooperation on professional training; and
• Promotion of agricultural investments.

“Signing this agreement will give both countries the stance to initiate institutional support, technical assistance, laboratory support and training in courses, seminars and public and private tours,” said Minister Joemat-Pettersson.

According to the Minister because South Africa and Namibia have shared borders and ocean it is ideal that the countries collaborate not only in agriculture but in forestry as well.

“We will each take responsibility in protecting species, exchanging information and expertise both ways, export goods between the two countries, and facilitate a closer corporation to form a stronger link between us,” she concluded.