Uuvudhiya – A tragic incident occurred at an earth dam in Uuvudhiya, Oshana Region, where a 26-year-old teacher drowned during his school’s year-end function on Thursday. The teacher was employed at Uuvudhiya Primary School in Omambuku village.

According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), Inspector Thomas Aiyambo, confirmed the incident on Saturday, identifying the deceased as Nentanyu Teligola Showeyapo Ashipala. Aiyambo detailed that the incident occurred while the deceased and fellow teachers were celebrating their year-end party at the local earth dam in Uuvudhiya village.

According to Aiyambo, the tragedy unfolded when Ashipala’s colleagues could not locate him after a certain point during the gathering. “Two teachers who were in the water found him submerged but lost grip of him while trying to rescue him, resulting in him disappearing under the water,” Aiyambo explained.

Despite efforts by colleagues and community members to trace Ashipala, their attempts were unsuccessful. The incident was promptly reported to Onkani Police Station, and subsequently to Oshakati Police Station. The Police Special Reserve Force was also notified of the incident.

Aiyambo reported that the divers and the investigation team managed to retrieve Ashipala’s body from the Earth Dam only on Friday. The deceased’s next of kin have been informed of the tragic event.

The Namibian Police Force is continuing its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the drowning.

Nairobi – Over 6,500 farmers across Narok, Kajiado, and Taita Taveta counties in Kenya have received training in forage production under the Integrated and Climate Smart Innovations for Pastoralist Economies and Landscape (ICSIAPL) project. This initiative, a collaboration between Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) and the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) – Kenya, aims to enhance livestock productivity and resilience against climate change.

According to Kenya News Agency, Director of KALRO’s Arid and Rangeland Research Institute (ARRI), the four-month training covered the entire production cycle of fodder crops. Topics included preparation, sowing, weeding management, harvesting, feed conservation, and business development around fodder production. Starting in 2021, over 20 different fodder crops were introduced for arid and high rainfall areas.

Dr. Kuria highlighted the project’s objective to address feed scarcity, noting the high cost of feed, which constitutes 70-75% of production costs. The European Union-funded project, totaling Ksh. 53 million, is nearing completion after three years.

Demonstration plots established during the project served as training centers, showcasing 10-12 different fodder varieties. The training, spread over three seasons from 2021 to 2022, culminated in farmers evaluating and selecting suitable varieties for commercial production. The project also demonstrated beef finishing techniques using a mix of grasses and legumes, showing that farmers could commercially raise sheep, goats, and cattle for market.

Key forages introduced include Cenchrus ciliaris, Enteropogon macrostachyus, Brachiaria camello, and various legumes. The project’s success is marked by a 40% adoption rate of these technologies among farmers, significantly higher than the usual 20%.

Elizabeth Nasaas from Mulot Gugos Dairy in Narok County shared her positive experience with the project, noting increased milk production from her cows. Similarly, Danson Mwashigadi, a livestock farmer from Voi Sub County, emphasized the benefits of the training in improving livestock health and productivity.

The project’s comprehensive approach included technology transfer, validation of commercial fodder production, and promotion of pasture seed bulking, aiming to improve cattle health and yield through better feeding regimens and access to high-quality feed.