Otjombinde veggie garden puts dent in malnutrition

A community garden in the Otjombinde constituency is being credited with helping to reduce child malnutrition by supplying fresh produce to local households.

Constituency councillor Wenzel Kavaka told Namibian Sun yesterday that the project produces green peppers, spinach, beans and maize and employs nearly 100 young people. Initially, 81 young people were recruited to clear and fence the land at the start of the project.

"We are starting to produce food for the community… even our malnutrition has dropped significantly within the constituency," he said.

The 13-hectare community garden at Talismanus was established through a partnership between the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and the Omaheke Regional Council to improve food security, create employment and help tackle malnutrition. Government invested about N$3.8 million in the pilot project, which included fencing, irrigation infrastructure, farm equipment and two boreholes to support production.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare described the initiative as a pilot project that government hopes to replicate across Namibia's 121 constituencies. He said community gardens could strengthen food security, create jobs and improve household nutrition.

While Kavaka credited the project with reducing malnutrition, he did not quantify the reported decline or indicate the period over which it had occurred.

More to do

Beyond the garden, Kavaka said the constituency has employed about 70 young people to clear vegetation along the Namibia-Botswana border fence to improve access for maintenance work amid concerns over the spread of foot-and-mouth disease in neighbouring Botswana.

He also identified alcohol abuse as one of Otjombinde's biggest social challenges, saying unlicensed outlets selling homemade alcohol continue to affect communities.

"If I have the power to change anything, those unlicensed places must either obtain a licence or they should be closed," he said.

Kavaka added that improving road infrastructure and expanding telecommunications coverage remain key priorities, estimating that only about 60% of the constituency currently has reliable communication coverage.

His remarks come against the backdrop of Omaheke's long-standing struggle with child malnutrition.

According to the 2024 Namibia Smart Survey, 34.8% of children under five in the region are stunted, while the survey also found that 16.9% of children in Omaheke were underweight.

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