Beatus Arnat
More than 21 small-scale horticulture farmers in Kavango West region recently benefited from a familiarisation visit.
The trip was organised by Climate Resilient Agriculture in Three Vulnerable Extreme Northern Crop-Growing regions (Crave) as they learned from their counterparts in the Oshikoto, Oshana and Omusati regions.
Viktoria Hango, Crave liaison officer for Kavango West, said the trip was aimed at exposing farmers to various strategies of irrigation, which they are expected to incorporate in their projects.
“We will continue to capacitate these farmers through technical support as we have already given them the equipment they need. We will also give them a lot of training and mentorship to a level we feel they are fit on their own,” said Hango.
Since the inception of the project in 2018, Crave has assisted 140 beneficiaries in Kavango West, from which 94 farmers have already received the installation of drip irrigation and solar water pumps.
Soke Lukas, a farmer from Bunya village, a beneficiary of Crave project, says the trip to the three regions was an eye opener to them as small-scale horticulture farmers in the region.
“Our farming colleagues in these regions are purpose driven, as they ensure they harvest all season and therefore have money throughout the year to take care of their farming projects,» related Lukas.
Another beneficiary farmer from Ncinze village is Kasiku Siteketa who according to her wish the regional leadership could assist them in securing markets for their produce. “Our regional council should help us by getting us a market and by inviting experts who can teach us on aspects of farming as a business,” stated Siteketa.
The Crave project, which is hosted by the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) is funded by Green Climate Fund to the tune of N$150 million and ends in 2022.
The aim of the project is to increase climate resilience and reduce food insecurity in the Zambezi, Kavango East and West regions.