Divundu prison farm delivers N$14m food bounty in a year

The Divundu Correctional Facility in Kavango East has supplied nearly N$14 million worth of food to state institutions and communities between March 2025 and 27 April 2026, despite operating with a 73% staff shortfall.

For the 2024/2025 season, the facility harvested 1 446.8 tonnes of maize at an average yield of 8.6 tonnes per hectare.

The figures were presented by assistant commissioner Geoffrey Salufu during a briefing to Kavango East governor Hamunyera Hambyuka on a familiarisation visit this week.

Salufu said the facility remains a key food supplier to correctional centres and other state agencies nationwide, supporting food security while generating revenue for the state.

“We provide the Namibian Correctional Service and all facilities around the country with maize meal, Max-A-Meal, fresh maize cobs, brown bread, brown flour, vegetables and fruits,” he said.

The facility supplied correctional facilities with food valued at N$9 906 258.84, while the Namibian Police received supplies worth N$3 203 291.00.

Combined, the two main institutional beneficiaries received food worth N$13 109 549.84, forming the bulk of the facility’s production output.

Salufu said the operation is driven by large-scale irrigation farming across 166.7 hectares of centre-pivot systems, where maize remains the dominant crop, followed by wheat.

Community supervision

Wheat production in the same cycle reached 626.8 tonnes from 110.95 hectares, although part of the crop was lost due to rainfall damage. Workers, however, did not allow it to go to waste.

“That wheat was spoiled and it was turned into chicken feed,” Salufu said, noting that the by-product is still sold to farmers and the public.

Vegetable production has also been a strong contributor. From 6.4 hectares recently harvested, the facility produced 182 130.6 kilograms of vegetables, exceeding the target of 109 500 kilograms and generating a value of N$2 160 869.44.

“This is real. We exceeded our target,” Salufu said.

Fruit production from 8 hectares added a further 15.31 tonnes of mangoes and guavas, surpassing the target of 11 tonnes and valued at N$165 301.80.

On stock levels, Salufu assured the delegation that the facility remains secure in terms of grain reserves.

“We have maize grain in stock of 675 tonnes. This can cater for plus-minus eight months at an average consumption of 77 tonnes per month,” he said.

He further noted that wheat stocks stand at 516.2 tonnes, sufficient for about nine months.

“This will cover supply to police stations and correctional facilities. We are safe,” he said.

Source of food security, income

Beyond institutional supply, the facility generated additional income streams.

Sales of maize meal, wheat grain, vegetables, bread and other produce to the public, staff and Osire Refugee Settlement amounted to N$454 886.53.

Animal feed sales, including chicken, cattle and pig feed, generated N$262 630.52.

Donations of food items to schools and surrounding communities were valued at N$277 144.50, while workshop activities contributed N$51 405.40 and national events added N$75 520.00.

Operational hurdles

Despite this output, Salufu highlighted severe staffing constraints.

“Approved staff strength is 703, current strength is 189. We are understaffed by 514 positions, which is a 73% staff shortage,” he said.

The facility currently houses 311 inmates against a capacity of 530, with 274 Namibians and 37 foreign nationals, including inmates from Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Tanzania.

A further 126 offenders are under community supervision, including remission and parole cases.

Operational challenges remain, including the absence of silos and a weighbridge, ageing tractors and combine harvesters, and frequent power outages affecting production and communication systems.

Despite these constraints, the Divundu Correctional Facility continues to function as a major agricultural production hub, supplying food to state institutions while supporting communities and generating revenue for the state.