By: Annakleta Haikera
About 60 people will be needed at the Shadikongoro Green Scheme in the Mukwe Constituency to harvest 26 hectares of sunflowers from this week in the Kavango East Region.
Farm manager Joseph Mutero confirmed the development during a familiarisation visit by Kavango East governor, Julius Hambyuka, on Saturday.
Mutero said the one-week recruitment drive would not only provide much-needed income for local families, but also foster a sense of ownership and participation in the government-run irrigation project.
“The sunflower harvest is expected to start on Monday, and we will be taking on about 60 locals to assist. This gives people a chance to benefit directly from the scheme, even if only on a temporary basis,” Mutero explained.
He further noted that the scheme has extended its impact beyond its production fields by empowering six surrounding farmers with sunflower seeds. Once harvested, the green scheme will purchase the produce, thereby creating a ready market and strengthening household incomes.
Despite challenges such as a lack of storage facilities, coolers, and limited access to tractors, Mutero said the scheme continues to make steady progress.
The sunflower crop is a vital component of Shadikongoro’s operations, as the seeds are processed into cooking oil at the on-site facility. This not only contributes to local food security, but also reduces Namibia’s dependence on imported cooking oil.
Hambyuka welcomed the progress, emphasising the importance of such initiatives in creating jobs and ensuring that communities benefit directly from state investments. He also praised the scheme’s efforts to involve local farmers in sunflower production.
Shadikongoro, one of several government irrigation initiatives in Kavango East, continues to play a critical role in job creation, food production, and skills development in the region.
In addition to sunflowers, the scheme has also planted 102 hectares of wheat this year. The wheat is expected to be harvested within the next two months and transported to Windhoek for processing, after which it will be sold to Namib Mills, the country’s main wheat producer.
The hiring of around 60 locals to harvest the sunflowers aligns with the employment goals of the NDP 6, which seeks to raise Namibia’s employment rate from 63% to 75% by 2030 through industrial expansion and green job creation.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s broader development strategy, supported by an estimated N$85 billion investment plan, prioritises job-rich sectors such as agriculture, agro-processing, and renewable energy.
Additionally, the Shadikongoro sunflower program not only expects to support local income generation and food security, but also to implement Namibia’s national agenda of expanding the country’s value-adding agro-industries.
