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When the farmer can’t come to Agra, Agra goes to the farmer

When the farmer can’t come to Agra, Agra goes to the farmer

Agra last week opened another rural branch, this time at the Hardap irrigation scheme near Mariental. Branch manager Paul Kirsten and his support staff Heidi Beukes and Josef Kahuti, welcomed a large group of farmers and Agra management to celebrate the official opening of their new store.

The Hardap irrigation scheme, fed by Namibia’s largest inland lake Hardap, is home to about 50 farming families growing anything from dates to lucerne, wheat, maize, beans, teff and sorghum.
Going by the funcky name Agra@Hardap, this is also the closest port of call for farmers at the Stampriet irrigation complex

The opening of the new branch was celebrated in style with Agra’s management from Windhoek driving down for the occasion. On the technical side, Dr Chris Schmidt from Sidi Parani explained updated guidelines to the farming audience for applying phosphate fertiliser and shared valuable information with the farmers on the growing of lucerne. Mr. Jannie de Bruyn, a representative of Pannar, spoke about new maize cultivars with considerable potential for crops under irrigation.

“We are one of the main pillars in the agricultural industry and through our extensive product range, Agra becomes more and more important to a larger and more diversified client base”, said Agra’s CEO, Arnold Klein adding that Agra has shown tremendous growth during the past years and has invested millions in Namibian infrastructure.

Agra identified the need in the Hardap area for a focused product and service branch not only supplying in the farmers’ production requirements but also assisting them with expert advice through Agra’s highly credible Agra Provision division.

Agra@Hardap is the first retail outlet of its kind. As part of the largger Agra branch network, it offers its clients competitive prices and unequaled professional expertise.

Board chairmain, Ryno van der Merwe congratulated the company on Agra@Hardap, wishing the store only the best of success before declaring it officially open. “The challenges of the agricultural industry also bring challenges for Agra as agricultural role player” he said encouraging the producers to make use of the products, services and expertise that Agra@Hardap offers.

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