RUNDU – The Agri-Trade Marketing and Trade Agency (AMTA) says the government has proven wrong many critics emphatically, who doubted the viability of green schemes and silos which cost hundreds of millions in taxpayers’ money.
The government agency took a swipe at critics on Monday during the launch of the Namibian Agriculture Marketing and Trade Policy in Rundu where it announced that the entire maize meal being distributed under the drought relief programme was milled from maize produced at various government projects. AMTA General Manager Lungameni Lucas made the remarks when AgriBusDev Managing Director Petrus Uugwanga announced over 15 000 metric tonnes of maize, that was stored at government silos, was sold to the Office of the Prime Minister to feed food insecure Namibians. “We have proven those critics wrong who doubted the green schemes and silos. People were saying the silos are a waste of government money and that they will end up as white elephants. For your information, we did not have to import any maize for the drought relief effort, since the maize from the state-owned green scheme projects filled the silos,” he said. Lucas further challenged those doubting the work of government to come forward if they have anything to say, adding that “as a country we should not be always have negative mindsets.”
“If something can work in other countries, why can it not work in Namibia,” queried Lucas. The general manager was also irked by the fact that in most cases products imported from South Africa are priced the same as those produced locally. “I always want to know where these prices come from. How can a product that is transported from South Africa, where transportation costs and commission for agents was deducted, have the same selling price as the local produce. Where are these prices coming from, something needs to be done,” Lucas said. “We are urging people to save their money, but with such practices how can our people save money if the local produce is competing with imported products,” he charged.
Lucas said AMTA would continue to lobby for increased investment in food production and the agro-industry. “The purpose of the company (AMTA) is also to diversify agricultural production and products for the domestic and export markets and more so to promote research and adaptation of technology to increase productivity.” The National Strategic Food Reserve has a combined storage capacity of 18 400 metric tonnes with facilities at Rundu, Okongo, Tsandi, Omuthiya and Katima Mulilo. Uugwanga said the total maize production around the country stands at 39 000 metric tonnes for this year alone. “The 15 000 metric tonnes sold to the OPM was all taken from the national silos. When we started setting up silos many people doubted it, but now almost half of the national maize production is coming from government projects,” he said. By next May or June we will reach the national total of 18 400 tonnes, because the reserves at Omuthiya are being upgraded from 500 to 3000 metric tonnes. Uugwanga said he fears that the Ndonga Linena Irrigation Scheme and the Mashare Commercial Farming Unit might experience a power shortage once the expansion activities are completed. “Additional power supply will be required at the rate at which we are currently expanding and since the existing installed power capacity will not be sufficient. We have engaged Nampower and Nored to look into the matter,” he said.
By Mathias Haufiku