Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Nida throws youth a lifeline

Nida throws youth a lifeline

KEETMANSHOOP -The Namibia Industrial Development Agency (Nida) has recruited seasonal workers during the harvesting and packaging of grapes and dates at the Naute irrigation project outside Keetmanshoop.

This is done each year. 

When recently interviewed by New Era, farm manager Simon Akwenye said with the ongoing harvesting and packaging of dates, a total of 350 unemployed residents from the region are currently employed by the agency. “They signed four-month contracts and are provided with accommodation on-site, but need to buy their own food,” he said. 

Asked about allegations that the dates’ production has been outsourced to a private company, Akwenye responded that Nida now sells the produce directly to a private entrepreneur, who then markets and exports it to international markets. 

This removes their burden of finding ideal export destinations in a highly- competitive industry.

Referring to the recently-concluded grape harvest, he said: “In total, 75 385 cartons have been exported during 2024/2025 season. But since the last fruits are still arriving in the export market, sales have not been concluded yet.” He further indicated that a skilled workforce to produce good-quality produce, sufficient water for production and the advantage of the farm being strategically located to the local ports for the export of the produce, are the agency’s biggest strengths, whilst available land for expansion and conducive weather conditions to produce high-value crops are further counting in their favour. 

“Challenges we are experiencing are, among others, limited financial resources, outdated grape varieties, wrong rootstocks and planting spaces, high input costs, competition with both local and international producers, and global challenges such as wars and pandemics,” the manager said.  

-sklukowski@nepc.com.na