MUSESE/KANYIKAMA – Popularly known as one of Namibia’s breadbasket, the Kavango West region boasts endless farming opportunities and has untapped potential to create employment and income streams for the region’s inhabitants.
But veteran farmer Winni Metzger, who is one the region’s foremost commercial farmers, is laying a strong foundation and has embarked on a mission to make Kavango West and Namibia – by extension – the epicentre of food security and innovative agriculture.
Metzger, a versatile farmer with unmatched experience and exposure in the agriculture industry, currently employs over 200 locals at his two farming enterprises.
Metzger, who operates in the Kavango West region under the Metzger Kora Nyara Trading enterprise, is the one currently managing and running the hugely successful Musese Green Scheme project as well as another private project at Kanyikama village, where he farms with over 600 pigs.
At both projects, Metzger also ventures into cassava and sugarcane, and it has over 700 mango trees, which he intends to fully commercialise once they reach the peak production stage.
Hands-on farmer
When New Era visited the Musese Green Scheme project, there were about 700 cattle feeding on cover crops, as the fields were yet to be prepared for the next maize planting season.
“Very soon, in the middle of November, we are going to start planting maize on our 550 hectares piece of land, and the projected tonnes to be harvested will be about 400 tonnes. That is what we make every year. At the moment, we are feeding cattle that we bought from our local communities here. One of the goals is to also give our farmers a market for their cattle at fair prices – and here at Musese and Kanyikama village, we offer the farmers the best prices,” he shared.
“When these cattle get here, they are thin, but we improve their conditions by feeding them with our cover crops. By the time they are ready for the market, they are fat and in good shape. I supply cattle for slaughter at abattoirs in the northern regions,” he noted while narrating the process farmers go through to sell their cattle to him.
“We buy everything: old cows and old oxen; we feed them well with the residue from the maize and green fodder, which gets them into good condition. Through this process, we get the best quality meat north of the redline, and a good market and supply chain for everybody on this side. It is actually a win-win for everyone – and that way, we will continue to make Kavango West green and productive.’’
The veteran Metzger is also contracted to prepare and mix flour for the region’s school feeding programme. The flour and all related supplies come directly from his Musese project.
“We mix it locally here and take it out to the various schools, and I tell you this is what makes our children in the rural areas go to school. If there’s no food at school, they will struggle to go, as they spend their time looking for something to eat at home and in the location. But when there is food at school, they will be motivated to go and learn, as the school feeding programme attracts them to class. I’m happy we can play our part in that regard,’’ he added.
Assisting local SMEs
Metzger is currently working with four small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that got the tenders to supply flour to schools for the school feeding programme through the ministry of education. He mills and mixes it for them at a milling facility at Musese.
“To me, this is one of the very important government programmes we are busy with, and we deliver on time because this programme ensures that every child gets to school to be with other kids and get an education. In rural Kavango West, we have noticed that when there is no food, you will find poor class attendance because the kids are running around the forest or at the river, looking for something to eat.”
The farmer also shared that the SMEs receive sugar, soya and salt from the education ministry, and they print maize bags, which they take to Musese, where Metzger has the maize and helps out with the milling and mixing process. They pay him for his maize, the milling and mixing as well as the packaging process.
Apart from the school feeding flour, Metzger has his own brand of maize meal, known as ‘Winnie’s sifted and unsifted maize meal’, which he produces both at Musese and at his Kanyikama project.
“I have built 22 shops, selling my maize meal – some in Kavango East in Rundu and some at several villages here in Kavango West. There are about two to three employees at these shops and enlisted local security guards,’’ he shared.
He believes that by adding value and producing maize meal, milling it in Kavango West, getting the residues and producing chicken feed from maize, he plays a huge role in stimulating the local economy of the region.
Community-oriented
Those farming with chicken and goats in this area have a place to buy some of their inputs at cheaper prices, rather than sourcing them from far away.
“Plus, the maize meal that we are milling here is sold at very good prices to make it affordable for our locals. If you look at our prices, they are not affected by the cost of transport, compared to when the maize has to be sent to Windhoek for milling and brought back here. Those are the things that influence prices, but we are able to sell a 10kg of maize meal at least N$10 cheaper than anybody else.’’
“So, all that value addition we do here is important because we are also creating jobs. I have 200 people working for me at Kanyikama and here, at Musese, permanently, and I have security companies looking after my shops here, at Musese and Kanyikama. We are benefitting the local communities, and the money remains in the region,” added a content Metzger.
At Kanyikama, Metzger is currently breeding and keeping 600 pigs on the farm, which he supplies to abattoirs and supermarkets in the northern regions as well as to Kavango East and Kavango West regions for consumption.
Use the following link to see Metzger explain his operations: