WINDHOEK – The Kalimbeza national rice project has sold all the rice varieties that survived the devastating floods experienced in the Zambezi Region this year.
Although the project endured huge losses of its short rice variety due to heavy flooding, demand for the nutritional rice was higher than supply. This year’s floods also displaced thousands of people in the flood-prone region.
Venaune Hepute, the agricultural research technician in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry yesterday confirmed the total harvest was completely sold by the end of August. He could however not say what the total tonnage of the rice harvest was this year. “We don’t have anything left. There was a high demand for rice from the region and from other parts of Namibia. It is a very high quality and nutritious rice. We started selling while we were busy milling due to the high demand from locals, and nothing was exported,” he explained.
When the floodwaters receded during May this year, the Irga and Angola rice varieties were submerged by flood waters resulting in a poor rice harvest. The project managed to harvest six hectares (ha) out of the 19 ha of the Irga variety that was planted. Only half a hectare was harvested out of the five hectares planted of the Angola variety.
He said the long rice variety, Supa, managed to survive the flooding because of its tallness. Supa is the most preferred rice of the project, because it has the best aroma and taste and is also of a high quality compared to the Irga and Angola varieties. “Supa survived on the whole 16 ha that was planted. We harvested all the 16 ha of Supa and the harvest was promising. More than 45 percent of the 16 ha planted was harvested,” he said.
To avoid losses due to early flooding this year, Hepute said they are already busy with the 2013/14 growing season. “We are currently busy with short variety (Irga and Angola) so that we can harvest before the floods come. If we plant early, we believe it can be harvested by February. We plan to plant the long variety later, towards end of the year between November and December so it can move along with the floods and can be harvested when the floods recede,” Hepute said.
The rice was sold at the various extension offices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry nationwide at different prices. One kilogramme (kg) was sold for N$5, while 2kg cost N$10 and 5kg cost N$25. Moreover, 10kg cost N$50 whereas 50kg cost N$250.
Hepute also revealed that houses for workers currently being constructed at the rice project would be completed before the end of this year. The construction of the logistics area is said to be progressing well. The area would include offices and a warehouse.
Albertina Nakale