Producer of the Year Winner Celebratory speech

17 Mar 2016

“Honourable Minister
Master of Ceremonies
Dear Ms Namundjebo-Tilahun (Vorsitzende)
Adv. Rukoro
Ladies and Gentlemen

First let me express my heartfelt gratitude for honouring me with the prize as Producer of the year. Who knows me, knows that I am not a person who strives for awards but it is of course a big honour for me to receive this distinction.

Meatco is an institution which I am immensely proud to be associated with. Having worked together with Meatco for 30 years, this is very special indeed. Meatco has always been a good partner, no matter if the year had been rain-laden or dry. Even though I’ve been – especially during good years for farming – not always satisfied with the prices paid, I must consider Meatco an outstandingly fair partner in business and a calming influence in uneasy times.

Though I have been awarded today, a man can only farm a limited amount of hectares himself. The success of our farm is mostly dependent on my employees, many of which have been working together with me since I started farming in 1982. Therefore, I am especially happy to be accompanied by my Foreman Paulus Hamukwaya tonight, who has grown a substantial herd himself and who supports me in optimizing our meat quality year by year. With our formula for success being decades of experience we possess and an expert eye when choosing the right bull to pass on his genes in the crossbreeding of Simmentaler and Brahman.

Namibian cattle farmers have a great history and it is an ongoing battle for all of us to fight drought, diseases and poaching every year. But we all know that there can’t be another option for a Namibian farmer as to carry on and to work hard towards our common Namibian future.

Once again, thank you very much and enjoy the night.”

L-R Paulus Hamukwaya, Hamakari farm, Foreman and Wilhelm Gerd Diekmann, 2015 Meatco Producer of the Year.

L-R Paulus Hamukwaya, Hamakari farm, Foreman and Wilhelm Gerd Diekmann, 2015 Meatco Producer of the Year.