Rural Entrepreneurs and Social Connections: The Management of Cattle Posts and Interactions among Farmers in North-central Namibia

Abstract

Increasing numbers of entrepreneurs have emerged in rural agrarian societies of Namibia. These entrepreneurs have introduced new approaches to maintaining livelihoods, and these new approaches may have changed the social connections among households that had been based on the previously rural economy of Africa. The paper examines recent changes in the social connections and relationships between rural entrepreneurs and other farmers in a specific local society in post-apartheid Namibia. Some farmers in the Owambo agro-pastoral society have changed their approach to livestock farming by establishing annual cattlepost. This approach to farm management differs from local methods, which have used a seasonal cattle post, and resembles those used in commercial farms. However, farmers involved in annual cattle posts tend to use their salaries from jobs in the subsistence economy, which is strongly supported by social relationships, to invest in new enterprises. Although these individuals have entrepreneurial skills and have actively introduced new methods of livestock farming, they have not totally shifted the market economy. Indeed, despite major economic disparities, the characteristics of rural economies, especially the value placed on coexistence, may lead to greater upward economic mobility among rural economies, especially the value placed on coexistence, may lead to greater upward economic mobility among rural households.