Stefanus Nambara
NKURENKURU – The Kavango West has roped in developmental partners as it seeks to support small-scale horticulture producers in the region to improve their production through training and finding a market.
Of recently, the regional governor’s office invited the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) representative to Namibia Farayi Zimudzi for a two-day visit to the region.
The purpose of the invitation was to acquaint the organisation on what is happening on the ground with regard to small-scale horticulture projects and seek ways to assist the region.
“They are here to visit some of the horticulture gardens and they will go back and reflect […] to see how they can assist us,” regional governor Sirkka Ausiku said.
After visiting various small-scale horticulture projects in Mpungu, Nkurenkuru and Tondoro constituencies on Monday, Zimudzi said it was an eye opener experience for her and her team.
She said that each of the project visited presents a different set of opportunities and feels that there is much effort being put into the projects.
“I think the energy to work is definitely there and at each site where we’ve been, we’ve seen a lot of community engagement, […] people investing their time, using the support they have been provided with to be able to do something meaningful,” she said.
She added that as much as there is good infrastructural support rendered towards the projects, there are areas that also needs more strengthening.
“I think one element that needs to be strengthened is the agronomic support to ensure that the community members that are benefiting from these projects have the know-how, they also understand how to manage their crops better to maximize or optimize production,” she stated.
She also emphasised on continued engagements with communities receiving support as an important aspect in going forward, saying that development is a lifetime process.
Overall, Zimudzi said she was impressed with the potential the region holds and with the leadership that is showing a strong push towards making sure that production and productivity is supported so that it makes a meaningful impact in the lives of the communities.
“We are very happy to be part of this visit and we would like to explore further how we can support the efforts of the regional leadership in terms of making sure that agriculture does indeed become a life changing, a livelihood activity for the people in this region,” she said.
On Monday, Zimudzi and her team visited the Wini Demo Plot in Mpungu constituency, Tumbu-Tumbu Horticulture Project, uMkhonto we Sizwe Fruits and Vegetables Garden in Nkurenkuru constituency, Diworoka Ruhepo Roge Horticulture Project and the Marema Community Open Market and Rugana Yipo Oparuke Horticulture Project in Tondoro constituency.
Yesterday, they visited the Halili Community Open Market, Sikondo Community Open Market and Sigone Demo Plot (Kapako constituency) and the Ncamagaro Horticulture Project.