Charmaine Boois

MARIENTAL – The Hardap region has a lot of agricultural potential, with its fertile soil and many agricultural activities, but persistent drought has become a huge concern for many farmers and backyard gardeners in the region.

However, many people keep going despite these difficulties, hoping and praying for more rain and coming up with creative solutions to keep their farms and gardens going. Among them is 30-year-old Pinias Namwandi, who has had a flourishing garden behind his shack in the Oshiwana Penduka informal area of Mariental since 2021.

Namwandi told Nampa his interest in gardening started at an early age. He was born in Mariental but was raised by his grandmother in Oshakati, where he completed high school. His grandmother taught him the basics of farming such as looking after cattle and gardening. In addition to teaching him how to cultivate a vegetable garden, she also provided him with insightful advice.

“Your vegetables will grow well if you love and care for them like your own children, water them frequently and always check on them,” Namwandi recalled his grandmother’s advice.

Moving back to Mariental after finishing Grade 12, Namwandi decided to put his knowledge into practice by establishing a vegetable garden.

“Everyone dreams of who they want to become in life. I want to become a farmer,” said Namwandi.

He moved out of his family home in 2021, not only to have his own place where he could live as an independent young man but also to have his own garden, where he planted tomatoes, beetroot, chillies and different kinds of spinach.

The key to his success has been a blend of his own techniques and techniques passed down by his grandmother, such as collecting plastic bottles to irrigate his plants. He also covers the plants with plastic sheets to help preserve moisture. In this way, he reduces water usage.

Namwandi wakes up early every morning to check on his plants and water them before heading to his job as a security guard. After his shift, he checks up on them and waters them again, making sure they have everything they need.

Tending the vegetable garden is however not without its challenges. The area where he stays is not favourable for his crops, with its intense heat, strong wind and shortage of water. He has to walk long distances with a wheelbarrow to collect water for his plants. These difficulties made him determined to relocate to another area where he can be near a water source. He also hopes to get a bigger area where he can expand his garden.

For Namwandi, farming is not just about feeding himself but giving back to the community.

He sells affordable vegetables such as a bag of spinach for N$10 and makes around N$50 per week. It might not be much, but Namwandi is content with the amount he makes.

“I don’t have to chase money. I love my garden and, therefore, I invest my time and affection into my garden and hopefully, money will chase me,” he said.

Fortunately for Namwandi, Mariental is a small town, and his efforts and gardening skills have been noticed.

Word reached the ministry of agriculture’s office in Mariental, and they offered him seeds, poles and shade nets for his garden. Namwandi believes in the power of collaboration and hopes to work with other people who have more knowledge and skills than him, so they can create food production schemes that will help with the food security challenges experienced in the region. “As humans, we should not be selfish with our skills, knowledge and resources. We should share and network,” he said.

His ultimate goal is to turn his passion for gardening into a sustainable career and help contribute to the agriculture sector in a meaningful way.

Namwandi concluded his interview with a message to the youth.

“We as the youth need to invest in the agriculture sector because it’s the biggest contributor to the country’s economy. Let’s find unique ways to make money using our minds and hands, whether it’s crafting or farming,” he stated. –Nampa