GOBABIS – Alma Kahorere is a teacher at Ben Van De Walt Primary School in Gobabis. Beyond the classroom, she is the founder of Ehupo Mu Eden Farming Enterprises CC, a local crop-producing farm that is making a difference in her community. 

“I started with a small backyard garden in 2020 just to feed my family. But my neighbours and relatives started asking me to buy from me. That’s when I realised this could become something bigger,” she said. 

In 2023, she formally registered Ehupo Mu Eden Farming Enterprises CC to expand her operations and reach bigger markets. 

“Formalising the business helped me access retailers and grow in a more structured way,” she said. 

Today, the farm covers close to three hectares and employs seven people. She supplies fresh produce to local households, vendors, and retailers, including SPAR and Megasave. 

Her income supports about 20 dependents, including her family and her employees’ families. 

“I started this business to supplement my teacher’s income, improve food security in my community, and create jobs. I was inspired by African agronomist Eric Mwenda and by the workshops I attended for emerging farmers,” she said. 

She used her personal savings and part of her teaching salary to start the farm. While teaching remains her primary source of income, the farm has become an important and growing source of support. 

“The farm is not just for my family. It feeds households and helps other families through employment,” she said. 

Like many small business owners, she faces challenges. 

“Cash flow can be irregular. Input costs go up. The weather is unpredictable. And it is not easy to access affordable finance for expansion,” she said. 

During tough months, she depends on her teaching salary and careful planning. 

“I budget strictly and prioritise essential inputs. Supplying reliable retailers also helps me stay afloat,” she said. 

She has received grants and support from the Ministry of International Relations and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, which she said gave her business a strong boost. 

“I would fall back on teaching, restructure the farm, or look for partners or funding to relaunch,” she said. 

She wants to expand her crop supply, employ more people and build a sustainable agribusiness that supports her family and the community. 

Right now, her biggest need is access to water. 

“I hope that somewhere out there, there is a good Samaritan who could assist me in drilling a borehole,” she said. 

-pmukokobi@nepc.com.na