Green schemes boost maize self-sufficiency
Bids for private sector participation underway
Green scheme projects, which underpin food security objectives in Namibia, are being strategically realigned.
Ellanie Smit
Following realignments under the agriculture ministry, green schemes have already doubled their yields.
Green schemes, which underpin food security objectives in Namibia, are being strategically realigned under the ministry after several years of institutional challenges at the Agricultural Business Development Agency (Agribusdev).
Agriculture deputy minister Anna Ndahambelela Shiweda highlighted some of the progress made during the 2022–2023 financial year under the agriculture development programme during the ministry’s budget motivation.
Shiweda said these assets have already been put into production, with an average total production of about 7 000 tonnes of white maize produced in addition to winter crops, effectively doubling the yields from other operational schemes.
She said this has the potential to exceed the capacity of the national strategic food reserve, which currently stands at 11 000 metric tonnes.
Upskilling
According to Shiweda, bids for private sector participation have been run for three schemes, namely Ndonga Linena, Uvhungu Vhung and the Orange River Irrigation Project (ORIP), while the bid for the Uvhungu Vhungu Dairy Project has already been awarded.
She said the ministry will proceed to bring to market some of the remaining green schemes as well as develop other brownfield projects with high potential for economic growth and job creation, such as the Neckartal Irrigation Project, for which a critical mass of land of about 19 137 hectares has already been secured.
Furthermore, under the agricultural extension programme, a total of 31 866 farmers were capacitated on crop, horticulture and livestock production as well as rangeland management through demonstrations, farm visits and training activities at agricultural development centres.
On the dryland crop production programme, a total of 14 951 communal farmers, comprising 5 745 men and 9 206 women, benefitted from subsidised mechanised services.
Support
This programme is set to benefit from the current roll-out of the Namibia seed improvement and mechanisation programme with the financial support of the African Development Bank, for which 18 of the expected 350 tractors with matching implements were procured and delivered to the Zambezi Region.
In addition, Shiweda said 380 walking tractors and seed drillers were delivered and already deployed to the crop-growing regions. “Whereas the remaining tractors are awarded and await delivery.”
The small stock development and distribution programme distributed about 580 goats to no less than 58 beneficiaries in Kunene, Otjozondjupa and Omaheke regions in line with the policy directive.
The proposed total budget for the agriculture, water and land reform ministry is more than N$ 1.75 billion.
Following realignments under the agriculture ministry, green schemes have already doubled their yields.
Green schemes, which underpin food security objectives in Namibia, are being strategically realigned under the ministry after several years of institutional challenges at the Agricultural Business Development Agency (Agribusdev).
Agriculture deputy minister Anna Ndahambelela Shiweda highlighted some of the progress made during the 2022–2023 financial year under the agriculture development programme during the ministry’s budget motivation.
Shiweda said these assets have already been put into production, with an average total production of about 7 000 tonnes of white maize produced in addition to winter crops, effectively doubling the yields from other operational schemes.
She said this has the potential to exceed the capacity of the national strategic food reserve, which currently stands at 11 000 metric tonnes.
Upskilling
According to Shiweda, bids for private sector participation have been run for three schemes, namely Ndonga Linena, Uvhungu Vhung and the Orange River Irrigation Project (ORIP), while the bid for the Uvhungu Vhungu Dairy Project has already been awarded.
She said the ministry will proceed to bring to market some of the remaining green schemes as well as develop other brownfield projects with high potential for economic growth and job creation, such as the Neckartal Irrigation Project, for which a critical mass of land of about 19 137 hectares has already been secured.
Furthermore, under the agricultural extension programme, a total of 31 866 farmers were capacitated on crop, horticulture and livestock production as well as rangeland management through demonstrations, farm visits and training activities at agricultural development centres.
On the dryland crop production programme, a total of 14 951 communal farmers, comprising 5 745 men and 9 206 women, benefitted from subsidised mechanised services.
Support
This programme is set to benefit from the current roll-out of the Namibia seed improvement and mechanisation programme with the financial support of the African Development Bank, for which 18 of the expected 350 tractors with matching implements were procured and delivered to the Zambezi Region.
In addition, Shiweda said 380 walking tractors and seed drillers were delivered and already deployed to the crop-growing regions. “Whereas the remaining tractors are awarded and await delivery.”
The small stock development and distribution programme distributed about 580 goats to no less than 58 beneficiaries in Kunene, Otjozondjupa and Omaheke regions in line with the policy directive.
The proposed total budget for the agriculture, water and land reform ministry is more than N$ 1.75 billion.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article