The Geological Survey of Namibia brings the National Sampling Programme to farmers in the Otjiwarongo district.

The Geochemistry & Laboratory Division, a division within the Geological Survey of Namibia conducted Public Seminars on the Regional Geochemical Sampling Survey, on 6-9 July.  Public education, through presentation on the importance of the Geological Survey had to be carried out in the Otjiwarongo district, as Otjiwarongo is the current target survey area. The seminars are aimed at informing the farming community on the importance of the Regional Geochemical Sampling Programme (National Project), which directly affects farmers. 

The programme was initiated in the year 2000, with the aim of collecting soil and stream sediment samples from selected sites across the entire country.  Up to date, only 20% of the country`s surface has been sampled, over a period of 15 years.  One of the reasons for the slow progress, among other challenges is that the Ministry encountered refusals of access to many of the commercial farms by the owners.  To date, sampling has been completed in areas such as, Kamanjab, Frans Fontein, Omaruru, Walvis Bay, Half of Rehoboth, Windhoek, Okahandja, and Tsumeb.  However, for Tsumeb, sampling is still in progress as a significant number of farmers have refused access to their farms. 

The analysis of the collected samples can generate geochemical baseline data for a wide range of chemical elements.  The data can then be used to produce biochemical baseline concentration maps.  In which the maps can be used for exploration purposes, environmental monitoring, agriculture, and land use planning.