Ndamona Jafeth

KAFUMA – Andreas Ncame (21) has challenged the stigma and stereotypes by certain quarters of society, who, for years, have branded marginalised communities as lazy, with impunity.

Instead of crying foul and deploying the victim mentality, Ncame started a productive horticulture project to feed himself and his family.

In an interview with the communication and technology ministry, he narrated that he started his gardening project in December 2025 at Kafuma village near Nkurenkuru on land he was given by the headman after realising his potential and using N$1 000 from his parent’s pension. 

This, he used to buy seeds with the help of his three younger siblings.

Ncame said his situation at home, relying on his parents’ old-age grants for basic needs, forced him to take on the project and do away with the narrative of being lazy.

“We were struggling and we did not go far until our parents gave us money. We used it to buy seeds and fertilisers,” he said.

Today, Ncame can afford his own cosmetics and take care of his three siblings with the little he makes from farming maize, cabbage, onions, spinach, tomatoes, green peppers and sweet potatoes on a small-scale project.

“I make up to N$700 a day, although I still have to take some to restock or buy something else. It is helpful,” he said.

Ncame said he has always been passionate about agriculture since studying it in school. 

He hopes to produce food for the community in the future.

Despite being a full-time transport and logistics student at International University of Management’s Nkurenkuru Campus, Ncame said he can easily navigate being a student, vendor and gardener successfully. 

He plans to change to the agronomic agriculture course to follow his passion.

Assistance

Ncame is seeking support from the government and any volunteer to assist him with a generator and a dam so that he can grow the project.

He hopes to create employment for the youth, as his main goal for the garden is to produce food for the community that raised him.

“I’m asking for help from the government or anyone that can help me get a dam and generator for the garden,” he said.

He added that some of the challenges he faces include fetching water from the river, which is far from the garden. 

Additionally, livestock destroy his fence and eat up his crops.

“Not so long ago, our garden gate was broken by thieves, and they stole some tomatoes,” Ncame said.

Thomas Ndjwaki, who is also a gardener, volunteered to be Ncame’s mentor to teach him how to properly apply fertiliser and prepare the nursery.

Ndjwaki said he is proud of Ncame’s efforts and decided to guide him and keep encouraging him.

He advised the youth to take part in agricultural projects and urged elders to support the youth that are interested in agriculture.

*Ndamona Jafeth is an information officer intern at MICT Kavango West.