Parliamentarians’ visits EIF projects in Kunene
Scorching heatwaves hamper crop production
The EIF, with capital investments from the Green Climate Fund, is currently undertaking projects valued at more than N$540 million across the country.
The parliamentary standing committee on natural resources recently visited the Kunene Region to familiarise themselves with projects funded by the Green Climate Fund.
The projects are being implemented by the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) and the agriculture ministry.
The committee, led by chairperson Tjekero Tweya, started off with a meeting with local authority leaders at Khorixas.
Mayor Lena ǂGaeses applauded the government for aligning itself with international conventions on climate change.
She said the move has paved the way for direct investments in the restoration of the region’s agriculture sector, which has over the years been crippled by the effects of persistent droughts.
"Our farmers have experienced heavy livestock losses and the scorching heatwaves have made crop production a mammoth challenge."
According to the EIF, to address climate-driven challenges in the Kunene Region, the agriculture ministry, together with the EIF, is implementing a N$130 million project titled "Improving Rangeland and Ecosystem Management Practices of Smallholder Farmers Under Conditions of Climate Change" (Irema Kunene).
The EIF said that the project has delivered tangible results in Sesfontein, Fransfontein and the Warmquelle areas through its various interventions.
Interventions
Over N$12 million has been invested in Fransfontein in the upgrading of a 16-hectare community garden situated 27km north of Khorixas.
The infrastructure features at the garden include the installation of a 400m3 water reservoir, the rehabilitation of two boreholes, bulk water pipelines, a solar plant, drip irrigation systems, shade netting and a solar-powered electric fence to deter marauding elephants from invading the property.
According to the EIF, the garden is currently in production and a bumper harvest is expected during the third week of October.
The project manager of the garden, Mirjam Kaholongo, said the garden is expected to produce fresh produce for both own consumption and the market.
From Fransfontein, the group travelled to Warmquelle, where the EIF has developed and operationalised what is soon to become a Climate-Smart Learning Centre.
Complexities
The centre showcases best agriculture practices and will transfer knowledge to the communities so that they are able to produce food at the household level, despite the challenges of climate change, said the EIF.
It has seven greenhouses, one fresh produce storage facility, staff accommodation, solar-powered pumps, a dam and bulk pipelines for open irrigation.
According to the EIF, the committee members reflected on the complexities of the work on the ground and expressed satisfaction with the installation of the greenhouses in general.
The EIF, with capital investments from the Green Climate Fund, is currently undertaking projects valued at more than N$540 million across the country.
The projects are being implemented by the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) and the agriculture ministry.
The committee, led by chairperson Tjekero Tweya, started off with a meeting with local authority leaders at Khorixas.
Mayor Lena ǂGaeses applauded the government for aligning itself with international conventions on climate change.
She said the move has paved the way for direct investments in the restoration of the region’s agriculture sector, which has over the years been crippled by the effects of persistent droughts.
"Our farmers have experienced heavy livestock losses and the scorching heatwaves have made crop production a mammoth challenge."
According to the EIF, to address climate-driven challenges in the Kunene Region, the agriculture ministry, together with the EIF, is implementing a N$130 million project titled "Improving Rangeland and Ecosystem Management Practices of Smallholder Farmers Under Conditions of Climate Change" (Irema Kunene).
The EIF said that the project has delivered tangible results in Sesfontein, Fransfontein and the Warmquelle areas through its various interventions.
Interventions
Over N$12 million has been invested in Fransfontein in the upgrading of a 16-hectare community garden situated 27km north of Khorixas.
The infrastructure features at the garden include the installation of a 400m3 water reservoir, the rehabilitation of two boreholes, bulk water pipelines, a solar plant, drip irrigation systems, shade netting and a solar-powered electric fence to deter marauding elephants from invading the property.
According to the EIF, the garden is currently in production and a bumper harvest is expected during the third week of October.
The project manager of the garden, Mirjam Kaholongo, said the garden is expected to produce fresh produce for both own consumption and the market.
From Fransfontein, the group travelled to Warmquelle, where the EIF has developed and operationalised what is soon to become a Climate-Smart Learning Centre.
Complexities
The centre showcases best agriculture practices and will transfer knowledge to the communities so that they are able to produce food at the household level, despite the challenges of climate change, said the EIF.
It has seven greenhouses, one fresh produce storage facility, staff accommodation, solar-powered pumps, a dam and bulk pipelines for open irrigation.
According to the EIF, the committee members reflected on the complexities of the work on the ground and expressed satisfaction with the installation of the greenhouses in general.
The EIF, with capital investments from the Green Climate Fund, is currently undertaking projects valued at more than N$540 million across the country.
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