The Namibia Agronomic Board at its annual National Agronomic and Horticulture Awards (NAHA) recognised and awarded the country’s various top producers during a glittering ceremony that was recently held at the Olushandja Marketing Hub in the Omusati region. 

For this year, the annual awards were held under the theme ‘Enhancing food security amidst climate change challenges’.

The event saw the Sikondo Green Scheme being awarded the Outstanding Wheat Producer of the Year accolade for its exceptional efforts despite the persisting drought.  Sikondo is situated in the Kavango West region, and remains one of the country’s foremost green schemes that continues to yield positive results amidst unfavourable weather conditions. 

Another top winner on the day was Omusati region’s Etunda Green Scheme, which was recognised as the Emerging Wheat Producer of the Year. 

Bokomo Namibia won the Outstanding Grain Processor of the Year award. 

Farmer Johannes Amunyela won the Best Horticulture Producer of the Year award, while Chipalanga David Tuhafeni was awarded as the Best Agronomy Youth Producer of the Year. The Agronomic Board also recognised and awarded Green Crisp Farming with the Outstanding Horticulture Producer of the Year accolade, while the Master Crop Value Chain award was given to Eric van Druten from the Karst production zone.

Van Druten also walked away with the Emerging Best Horticulture Exporter of the Year award, which saw Okaperuperu Farming taking home the Outstanding White Maize Producer of the Year award. 

Prettiness Tubazimbe Muitati from Nkurenkuru won the Emerging White Maize Producer of the Year award, while farmer Moses Mapani from the Zambezi region was awarded the Outstanding Pearl Millet (Mahangu) Producer of the Year award. 

Anneli Emilie Mutumbulwa from Omuthiya got the Emerging Pearl Millet (Mahangu) Producer of the Year prize. 

Drought assistance 

Meanwhile, the Agronomic Board also used the award ceremony to launch its drought support programme for surplus and commercial grain producers, where it handed N$1 million to the Office of the Prime Minister to assist with drought relief food aid.

“This programme that we are launching is to support and enhance government efforts so that we can reach more people who need to be assisted with food aid. The objective of this programme is to provide subsidies, certified seeds for white maize and mahangu, as well as fertiliser to the rain-fed surplus and commercial farmers who are affected by drought,” said the Board’s CEO, Fidelis Mwazi. 

-ohembapu@nepc.com.na