Charles Ndeumane
OSHAKATI – During a workshop attended by management employees from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) at Oshakati this week, the ministry stated its pleasure in the progress made by the green schemes.
It was apparent from their presentation that the schemes that have over the years come under heavy scrutiny for becoming white elephants, have woken up from their slumber.
Speaking at the one-week workshop, aimed at assessing the progress made by the agriculture ministry during the first quarter of 2024 and how to better its performance, executive director Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the ministry’s green schemes.
The ministry currently has several operational green schemes, namely Etunda, Musese, Sikondo, ORIP, Hardap, Uvungu-Vhungu and Shadikongoro.
“We have done a great job thus far in the first quarter. It seems like the green schemes double their harvest each year,” stated Nghituwamata.
In attendance was Oshana governor Elia Irimari, who applauded the ministry for its progress.
“The MAWLR is one of the biggest ministries in the country, and it plays the most important role. It deals with all the aspects that affect daily life – from water, nature and so forth. I am proud of the ministry for its continued efforts to produce results,” he said.
Nghituwamata added that the ministry spent N$28 million on the Namibia Agricultural Mechanisation and Seed Improvement Project (NAMSIP).
It is aimed at improving household food security and nutrition, job-creation, household incomes and lives of rural people through increased agricultural production and productivity in line with Namibia’s fifth National Development Plan, the Harambee Prosperity Plan and the Growth at Home Strategy for Industrialisation, which identify agriculture as a priority area with the potential to contribute to economic development, social transformation, environmental sustainability and good governance during the current financial year.