Photo: Annakleta Haikera
By: Annakleta Haikera
A N$1 million horticulture production hub is set to strengthen climate-resilient food production and improve livelihoods for vulnerable communities at Daureni in the Mankumpi Constituency of the Kavango West Region.
The site for the Horticulture Production Hub at the Daureni Cluster of Sustainable Villages (CSV) was officially handed over to the contracted service provider on Tuesday, marking the start of activities aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural production.
The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (MGECW) in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
The N$1 million investment will cover the construction of protective net structures and the installation of a water tank to support horticultural production and improve water availability for growing crops.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Veronica Mudumbi, chief community liaison officer at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, highlighted the importance of climate-resilient initiatives.
She said such initiatives enable vulnerable communities to adapt to changing weather conditions while improving food security and nutrition.
Mudumbi emphasised the need to strengthen communities’ capacity to produce their own food sustainably, particularly in the face of climate-related challenges that affect agricultural production and household livelihoods.
The hub is expected to support more reliable horticultural production by providing infrastructure that helps protect crops and improves water availability, contributing to more sustainable food production in the area.
Community leader Andreas Kamukwanyama welcomed the initiative, saying it would provide an opportunity for local residents to strengthen their agricultural activities and improve their livelihoods.
He said the project could help community members produce vegetables for household consumption while creating opportunities to generate income from surplus produce.
Kamukwanyama also emphasised the importance of community participation and ownership to ensure that the infrastructure is maintained and benefits residents over the long term.
The handover was led by the regional council in partnership with WFP following the completion of procurement for the establishment of the hub.
It formed part of a two-day stakeholder engagement held from 12 to 13 October, which brought together regional and local stakeholders, beneficiary communities and traditional leaders to promote coordinated implementation of the project.
The garden will produce vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, cabbage, spinach and carrots.
The contracted service provider is expected to carry out the agreed activities from 7 August 2026 to 31 March 2027.
The CSV initiative seeks to strengthen food security, improve nutrition and create sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable communities through integrated horticultural production.
The project is expected to contribute to local resilience by supporting communities to produce food more sustainably and reduce their vulnerability to climate-related challenges.
annakletahaikera@eaglefm.com.na
