Windhoek
Once the much anticipated rice from the Kalimbeza rice project hits the shelves it will sell for about N$10 per kilogramme for the short grain variety and N$15 per kilogramme for the long and medium grain.
This is according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry’s agricultural research technician, Patrick Kompeli, who however pointed out that the project is still awaiting packaging material from neighbouring South Africa.
“The rice is not yet available at local retailers. Once the packaging equipment and material arrive we will send the rice to the Agro-Marketing Trade Agency (AMTA), which will in turn distribute it to retailers country-wide,” Kompeli said yesterday. He added that when the packaging materials arrive, hopefully this week, then the rice will initially be packaged in one- and 10-kilogramme bags.
The Kalimbeza national rice project is situated near Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi Region.
AgriBusDev, an agribusiness investment and consulting firm, recently said Namibia’s home-grown rice will be branded and available on local supermarket shelves by August 10 at the latest.
According to AgriBusDev’s managing director, Petrus Uugwanga, more than 70 tonnes of Kalimbeza rice will be distributed to local commercial outlets. He added that they are currently finalising the distribution logistics and are committed to doubling output over the next year: “It is our commitment and engagement to double this amount. Come next year, it should be 140 tonnes and above, or even triple this amount.”
The supply of Kalimbeza rice to the local market comes shortly after the launch of the first-ever strategic plan for AgriBusDev and the official launch of the commercialisation of Namibia’s home-grown rice in June this year.
When he officially launched the project, the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, John Mutorwa, said he was hopeful the amount of rice harvested would double, or even triple by 2016.
The project was declared a national project by former president Hifikepunye Pohamba in 2009, indicating its potential to boost food security and assist with poverty reduction. It was jointly implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry and the University of Namibia (Unam) in 2007.