Govt seeks partner to revive idle dairy farm

Nearly 16 years after the project began, the Uvhungu Vhungu dairy farm has yet to begin production. The agriculture ministry plans to lease the facility to a public-private partnership (PPP), which would fund the outstanding work needed to make it operational.Despite being identified as a regional priority for strengthening food security and creating jobs in Kavango East, the farm remains idle.Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said the government did not currently need to provide additional funding because electrical and water reticulation works were nearing completion.The private partner would fund any further work it deemed necessary to make the facility fully operational.“The project will be leased out to a private public partnership of which they will then fund the works that they deem necessary for their 100% operational status,” Muyunda said.He said electrical and water reticulation works were 98% complete and expected to be finished by 15 October.However, milk production cannot begin until the ministry obtains the milking machinery’s user manual, which is needed before the equipment can be connected to electricity.Muyunda said the machinery might also need upgrades, given that “the system has been standing for 16 years”.The ministry has not disclosed whether it has identified a private partner or when it expects to conclude the lease agreement.Progress at the farmUvhungu Vhungu manager Florian Smith told Namibian Sun that workers had connected electricity through a transformer and installed cables, although he was unsure whether they had completed all the electrical installations.He said workers had established a temporary water connection to supply facilities such as toilets. However, the connection drew water directly from the irrigation system, which required purification before it could be used for drinking or livestock.The ministry’s technology centre had been working on the electrical installations, he said.Smith said maize production was continuing, while the dairy component remained unfinished. About 10 hectares had been planted with maize, and he intended to continue production next year.He could not provide a completion date because he was not involved in decisions about the outstanding work, tender processes or funding needed to finish the project.“I'm sitting and watching from the side,” he said.

Govt seeks partner to revive idle dairy farm

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-13

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Govt seeks partner to revive idle dairy farm

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-13

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