NAB and partners mark first commercial banana harvest at Etunda

With Namibians consuming around 7 000 tonnes of imported bananas each year, the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB), Avagro and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform last week celebrated the first locally produced harvest.

Given the popularity of bananas, the institutions launched several trials across six zones – Singalamwe, Divundu, Tsumeb, Oshikoto, Etunda and Kunene – to identify areas most suitable for cultivation, as the plants are particularly vulnerable to frost.

Namibian Sun visited the Etunda green scheme banana plantation in the Omusati region on Friday to witness the first successful harvest.

NAB chief executive officer Fidelis Mwazi said the entire first crop will be sold on the local market.

He confirmed that Namibia currently imports 100% of the bananas consumed, which have been identified as the second most popular fruit after apples.

Last year, Namibia spent approximately N$47.5 million on banana imports, with the data highlighting a strong demand for locally produced bananas.

Mwazi said with all trial sites showing promising results, which suggests that bananas can flourish in Namibia's climate, farmers are encouraged to consider their own operations.

Mwazi disclosed that the board invested N$13 million initially and plans to invest an additional N$13 million annually over the next five years, totalling N$65 million, into the plantation sites.

“We are not undertaking this project alone; we have partners supporting us, including the ministry of agriculture, which has allocated land for all the trial sites; Avagro as our technical partner providing the necessary tissue culture for planting; and the University of Namibia serving as our research partner for seed and production studies,” he said.

Mwazi said they aim to produce at least 80% of the bananas consumed domestically, adding that farmers will be equipped to cultivate and commercially sell bananas.

At the Etunda site, 1 104 banana seedlings were planted, which are expected to yield approximately 30 to 45 tonnes on 0.6 hectares of land.

Mwazi noted that they will require nearly 200 hectares of land to produce a variety of banana types and to continue conducting trials.

In addition to bananas, the board is also researching seed certification for white and yellow maize, wheat and potatoes.

Mwazi indicated that this initiative aims to develop local seeds that yield good production with reduced pest and disease susceptibility and that are well-adapted to Namibia's climate.

Hugo Raath from Avagro encouraged farmers to consult the appropriate officials for more information and advice before embarking on banana cultivation without proper knowledge.

“Information is crucial, otherwise, transitioning to commercial farming will be challenging, as there are specific procedures to follow when growing crops, including selecting the best cultivars in demand, understanding soil types, average water levels, maintenance requirements, and so forth,” he explained.

For farmers purchasing banana seedlings from other local farmers, he advised caution and encouraged them to seek proper information on how the seedlings were planted and the variety involved.

SUCCESS: Namibian Agronomic Board CEO Fidelis Mwazi. PHOTO: Loise Shiimi