RIETFONTEIN – Just as Namibia’s agronomy sector is grappling with a fluctuating and mammoth annual import bill of over N$472 million, the National Youth Service (NYS) Production Centre at Rietfontein is rising like a phoenix, and will soon become the country’s only oasis of hope.
Situated approximately 40km south of Grootfontein in the vast Otjozondjupa region, the NYS Production Centre is rewriting the playbook and redefining all things agriculture through embracing technology, teamwork, collaboration, smart work and aligning with the country’s grand vision.
The AgriToday team recently visited the hugely-revitalised NYS Production Centre, and witnessed firsthand how various foremen and their teams at the many gardens go about intensifying operations, harvesting new crops ,and meeting strict delivery deadlines.
The centre has adopted modern agricultural technologies, including the procurement and implementation of Centre Pivot Irrigation Systems across a combined 11.2 hectares.
This strategic move has substantially increased production capacity, tripling it over the past year. To date, the centre has cultivated various crops over 10 hectares of land, including 4.5 hectares of cabbages, 3.5 hectares of potatoes, 1.3 hectares of carrots as well as beetroots and onions on the remaining land.
Belinda Hamburee, the NYS corporate affairs and marketing manager, shared with this publication how the centre is contributing to local food security, and how they have managed to narrow the gaps as far as supply to local markets is concerned.
“We are currently engaged in harvesting cabbages under a succession planting system, with plans to harvest beetroots and carrots shortly. Potatoes and onions are expected to be harvested in October. Notably, the upcoming potato harvest marks the second phase following the successful harvest of 22 tonnes of potatoes in April, thereby reducing the import dependency of one of Namibia’s most consumed crops,” she said.
Local markets
Hamburee remains highly optimistic about the centre’s untapped potential to become the breadbasket of Namibia, especially in creating more employment opportunities for the youth, and keeping the country’s food reserves at an optimum.
“The increase in production has enabled us to secure local markets for our products, encompassing both formal and informal sectors. These markets include Namibia Fresh Produce, AMTA, Erongo Foods Product, Olushandja, Choppies, Grootfontein Pick n Pay and OK Foods, amongst others. Given the improved production, we will persist in investing in agricultural technologies and infrastructure to boost production, diversify crops and enhance land productivity,” she noted.
She further divulged that “the production centre provides internship opportunities for trainees pursuing agricultural studies at the centre, as well as to trainees from other TVET institutions, helping them develop the skills needed to become competitive artisans. Moreover, we hire from our trainee pool for the gardens, thereby creating job opportunities for our trainees”.
Embracing technology, and always responding to the needs of the market, remains a key driving force behind the operations and vision of the centre, she remarked.
“The adoption of these technologies further underscores NYS’s unwavering commitment to innovation aimed at boosting productivity, thus supporting government’s social development goals on eradicating hunger and poverty. Moreover, it enhances the resilience of the country’s agricultural operations amid environmental challenges such as the ongoing drought situation in Namibia,” she noted.
She went on to say, “Through these significant efforts, NYS demonstrates its commitment to strengthening national food security, nutrition and sustainable agricultural development, particularly during Namibia’s severe drought conditions. This achievement not only highlights the NYS dedication to innovation and resilience, but emphasises its crucial role in fostering economic development, and advancing the nation’s social development goals”.
– ohembapu@nepc.com.na