By: Loise Shiimi
Farmers expressed their enthusiasm following President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s announcement of plans to establish processing centres in all 14 regions of the country.
Shikonda Leader Shivute, a farmer and manager of the Okongo Horticulture and Agro-Food Processing Association Cooperative, shared that this initiative is warmly welcomed by members of the association.
Shivute highlighted that the association produces a substantial amount of fruits and vegetables in Okongo, often exceeding local demand.
“For crops like tomatoes, we produce more than we can sell, and much of it goes to waste. The concept of processing centres can help us add value to our produce by enabling us to create tomato paste, tomato sauce, spices, and more,” he explained.
During her recent address at the traditional leaders’ annual meeting in Ondangwa, Nandi-Ndaitwah indicated that a sizeable portion of the population resides in rural areas. To this, she expressed her commitment to transformational changes in developmental plans that benefit these communities, such as the establishment of said processing centres.
“We need to identify the economic strengths of every region in Namibia. The development of production centres will drive progress in our communities and help us achieve self-sufficiency in food production,” she noted.
To ensure the success of the proposed processing industries, Nandi-Ndaitwah urged traditional leaders to collaborate closely with the government in fostering a shared vision for development.
“Please take the time to familiarise yourselves with the policies and programs designed to create jobs for our youth. These initiatives aim to bring tangible socio-economic development to your communities through effective land management. You play a vital role in representing the government in our unitary state,” she remarked.
Shivute added that the association’s business plan includes the introduction of processing and packaging their products with their logo.
“We aim to produce our products professionally, not just with tomatoes, but also with other crops like spinach, onions, carrots, and green peppers. With the processing centre, we will be able to store produce that spoils easily, reducing waste,” he noted.
He also mentioned that some farmers within the association have already begun processing various products, including cooking oil from sunflower, body lotions, body soaps from moringa, as well as spices, jam, and tomato paste. They are also processing pearl millet into macaroni and biscuits.
With the anticipated establishment of a processing centre in the region, Shivute believes that the number of farmers engaged in processing will increase, as the current lack of infrastructure forces many to operate on a small scale, despite high demand.
Another vegetable and rice farmer, Festus Amunwe, shared his positivity about the planned processing centres, saying: “I am excited about these developments and hope they are implemented soon. Currently, I face the challenge of travelling approximately 163 kilometres to the Ogongo Campus to process my rice. Having our own processing centre in the Oshikoto Region would not only save us time, but also encourage more people to take up farming.”
In addition to processing centres, Amunwe pointed to the need for better access to water for farming, particularly as summer approaches.
“We urge the government to ensure water availability for farming, as we currently face shortages in Oshikoto. Relying on tap water is costly, and we would appreciate efforts to dig earth dams to access underground water for agricultural use,” he stated.
Lastly, Martin Shuudeni, a horticulturist, echoed that the processing centre would have a significant impact in all regions.
He noted that many produce items spoil and cannot be sold, but this initiative will provide farmers with the opportunity to avoid losing any produce, as the centres would utilise it all. He also remarked that this would enhance the market for the local community. “Many farmers currently sell their produce without adding any value. Having these centres will create those opportunities,” he said.
Shuudeni suggested that there should be more awareness before the establishment of the centres to prevent future abandonment of the facilities due to a lack of knowledge. “Farmers need to be educated on the importance of processing centres and how to use them, as well as the significance of adding value to their produce,” he encouraged.
