Recognition for Swakara producers
Swakara top 10 producers- From left to right: Wessel Visser, Manager of Agra’s Pelt Centre; Malcom Campbell from Lovedale Farming, Donnie Oberholster from Karasberge Karakoel Stoet Wit, Rossouw Strauss from Rossouw Strauss Trust, K Kotze on behalf of LJ Kotze and Mr & Mrs de Jager from Swartkop. Not in picture: Visser Danie Trust, Steenkamp P, Visser Boerdery, Liebenberg P A B J and Steyn M M(MEV).
The top ten producers, including the best and second best producer were awarded with prizes sponsored by Agra. The Rossouw Strauss Trust was awarded as the best producer of 2015, walking away with N$5 000. The second best producer award with a prize of N$3 000 was awarded to Mr Piet Steenkamp. Salmi Shilongo was the winner of the 2015 Swakara Young Designers competition award, which includes a week-long trip to Copenhagen to witness the Swakara pelt auction in April 2016, and an opportunity to practise her fur design and manufacturing skills at the Kopenhagen International Centre for Creativity (KICK). Mr PHK Maritz scooped the Kopenhagen Fur and Agra Limited Quality Award. He walked away with a sponsored trip for him and his wife to the next Swakara auction in Kopenhagen on 15 April 2016.
The “Golden Lamb” was awarded by the Swakara (Karakul) Board of Namibia to Nakara CC and farmer Mr. Daniel Motinga respectively. The Golden Lamb is awarded to institutions and/or persons with outstanding dedication and contributions to the Swakara industry. The award has been presented annually since 1979. Messrs. Jaco van Zyl and Adolf Awaseb of the Agra Pelt Centre were amongst those who walked away with Charter awards by the Swakara (Karakul) Board of Namibia. The Charter symbolises a “thank you” to persons who make a remarkable contribution to the industry.
The event was well attended by about 50 Swakara producers and international guests from Kopenhagen Fur, International Fur design, and the International Fur Federation (IFF).
Commenting on the viability of Swakara farming, Raimar von Hase, Swakara Board Chairperson said, “The factors have nothing to do with Swakara’s popularity, but more with the overseas market situation where the pelts are sold. At the moment, the situation is entirely out of the Swakara Board’s hands.”
