Tsumkwe food hub to create 200 local jobs
65 hectares of land provided
The World Food Programme and partners have provided N$6.6 million thus far to the project.
The Tsumkwe Agricultural Hub and Integrated Food Systems Project aims to increase food production and is expected to create around 200 local jobs.
Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said this at the groundbreaking ceremony of the project last week.
According to Nandi-Ndaitwah, the Tsumkwe Clinic Integrated Food Project was launched in August 2021 to stimulate the local economy and improve livelihoods through the production of healthy food.
The African Group of Ambassadors, the World Food Programme and Brazil have rendered support to the programme thus far.
Boost production
On 1 September last year, a stakeholders' monitoring visit to the project was undertaken.
During the visit, the team was informed that the Tsumkwe Clinic acquires fresh produce from the food project for its soup kitchen, which supports 25 tuberculosis patients as well as pregnant and lactating women.
A consensus was reached to upscale production, and 65 hectares of land were identified as suitable for expanding the agricultural activities in Tsumkwe East, subject to the allocation of land.
Subsequently, the Otjozondjupa Regional Council allocated the 65 hectares of land and the WFP in Namibia was tasked with demonstrating a sustainable agricultural project.
Food security
Nandi-Ndaitwah said the Tsumkwe project aims to complement the region and Namibia's overall efforts to improve food and nutrition security, employment creation and rural transformation.
The project specifically aims to increase production and access to targeted products such as crops, livestock, poultry and fish through research and learning, business modelling, outreach services, training and incentives, the implementation of specialised programmes and projects while taking climate change into account.
“It will also develop, design, establish and guide the maintenance of agricultural infrastructure in and around the designated sites, such as roads, drains, irrigation systems, water harvesting and dams.”
Furthermore, it aims to incentivise and support the production of high-quality processed and semi-processed food products for local use and export through the operations of the abattoir, food processing facilities and cottage industries by 2026.
Against this background, the WFP has spent N$6.6 million thus far to finalise construction of phase one of the project.
Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said this at the groundbreaking ceremony of the project last week.
According to Nandi-Ndaitwah, the Tsumkwe Clinic Integrated Food Project was launched in August 2021 to stimulate the local economy and improve livelihoods through the production of healthy food.
The African Group of Ambassadors, the World Food Programme and Brazil have rendered support to the programme thus far.
Boost production
On 1 September last year, a stakeholders' monitoring visit to the project was undertaken.
During the visit, the team was informed that the Tsumkwe Clinic acquires fresh produce from the food project for its soup kitchen, which supports 25 tuberculosis patients as well as pregnant and lactating women.
A consensus was reached to upscale production, and 65 hectares of land were identified as suitable for expanding the agricultural activities in Tsumkwe East, subject to the allocation of land.
Subsequently, the Otjozondjupa Regional Council allocated the 65 hectares of land and the WFP in Namibia was tasked with demonstrating a sustainable agricultural project.
Food security
Nandi-Ndaitwah said the Tsumkwe project aims to complement the region and Namibia's overall efforts to improve food and nutrition security, employment creation and rural transformation.
The project specifically aims to increase production and access to targeted products such as crops, livestock, poultry and fish through research and learning, business modelling, outreach services, training and incentives, the implementation of specialised programmes and projects while taking climate change into account.
“It will also develop, design, establish and guide the maintenance of agricultural infrastructure in and around the designated sites, such as roads, drains, irrigation systems, water harvesting and dams.”
Furthermore, it aims to incentivise and support the production of high-quality processed and semi-processed food products for local use and export through the operations of the abattoir, food processing facilities and cottage industries by 2026.
Against this background, the WFP has spent N$6.6 million thus far to finalise construction of phase one of the project.
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