Auleria Wakudumo
The agriculture ministry is gearing up for a productive cropping season as part of the second planting cycle of the 2025/2026 financial year, which commenced at the end of October 2025.
The season marks a renewed push to upscale and capacitate green scheme projects nationwide, with the aim of increasing agricultural production, strengthening national food security, and reducing reliance on imported grains.
Across the country, green scheme projects are expanding cultivated areas, introducing improved crop varieties, rehabilitating irrigation infrastructure, and adopting precision agriculture technologies to boost yields.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Simon Nghipandulwa, emphasised that the input supply remains stable under a three-year contract with reliable suppliers, while the ministry continues to address equipment procurement backlogs caused by budgetary
constraints.
At the Sikondo Green Scheme Project, the commercial unit spans 350 hectares, of which 130 hectares were cultivated last season. For 2025/2026, production will expand to 250.6 hectares, representing 75% of the total farm area. Medium-scale farmers have been allocated 270 hectares, with 150 hectares targeted for maize production. Maize remains the dominant crop on the commercial unit, covering 230 hectares, alongside potatoes, wheat, pearl millet, sorghum, tomatoes, green peppers, watermelons, butternuts, and sweet potatoes.
During the 2024/2025 season, Sikondo produced 1 564.65 tons across all crops. For the current season, production is projected to double to 3128.60 tonnes, driven largely by the expansion of maize hectarage and the rehabilitation of three centre pivots covering 79.3 hectares.
Nghipandulwa highlighted that the Uvhungu Vhungu Green Scheme Project covers 773 hectares and includes commercial production areas, floodplains, small-scale farmer units, and a dairy unit.
For the 2025/2026 season, 312 hectares have been earmarked for commercial production and 60 hectares for small-scale farmers, with white maize as the principal crop, supported by cabbage and butternuts. After harvesting 1 206 tons of maize last season, the scheme is targeting 2 650 tonnes this season at an average yield of 8.5 t/ha, following the addition of 165 hectares into production.
“Investments in new machinery, including a combine harvester, replacement pivots, and improved fertiliser application systems, are expected to reduce delays and enhance efficiency, while plans are underway to automate irrigation and install grain silos in 2026,” he said.
The Etunda Green Scheme Project in the Omusati region, spanning 1 200 hectares, comprises commercial, small-scale, medium-scale and Otjimbele units.
240 hectares have been allocated to the commercial unit, 150 hectares to small-scale farmers, and 36 hectares to medium-scale farmers, with maize as the primary crop.
After producing 2,004 tonnes of maize last season at an average yield of 8 t/ha, Etunda is targeting 9 to 10 t/ha this season with an overall production goal of approximately 3 600 tonnes.
At the Hardap Green Scheme Project, lucerne production remains the core activity across 258 hectares, of which 150 hectares are irrigable. A new 50-hectare irrigation system is currently under tender, and once operational, it is expected to significantly improve output. Existing lucerne stands are scheduled for replacement in April 2026.
Meanwhile, the Ndonga Linena Green Scheme Project plans to cultivate 1 100 hectares across the 2025/2026 seasons, covering 680 hectares of maize and 420 hectares of wheat, representing 85% of its irrigable area. Summer maize planting is already underway and will be completed before mid-December, while winter wheat planting is scheduled for May 2026.
After producing 3 800 tons of maize last season, the project is targeting yields of 9 t/ha for maize and 6 t/ha for wheat, with a combined projected output of 8 640 tons, a 40% increase.
The Shadikongoro Green Scheme Project covers 585 hectares, with 390 hectares irrigable.
Nghipandulwa said that the entire irrigable area will be planted with maize, allocating 300 hectares to commercial production and 90 hectares to small-scale farmers. The project is targeting an average yield of 9.5 t/ha this season.
The Orange River Irrigation Project, which spans 600 hectares, remains focused on the production of grapes, dates and vegetables.
“Although only 33.5 hectares are under production this season, the project is expanding gradually. For 2025/2026, 29 hectares are allocated to dates, with additional areas under butternuts and watermelon,” he added.
Following a 2024/2025 output of 280 tons of dates and significant vegetable production, similar date yields are expected this season, with increased outputs projected for butternuts and watermelons. The project has also applied for approval to expand grape production by 50 hectares annually.
