Agriculture changes life
An Agribank loan helped Elifas Nuujoma to turn his life around, from unemployment to employing other people.
STAFF REPORTER
WINDHOEK
Elifas Nuujoma, a loan beneficiary of Agribank’s Emerging Farmers Retail Financing (ERFP), said his life changed for the better when he started farming.
Nuujoma farms in the Olushandja area, between Epalela and Onesi in the Omusati Region.
He was jobless and had been struggling to earn an income for his family when in 2005 he capitalised on his land and ventured into horticulture.
“When I was unemployed, I was always thinking of ways to sustain my family. I have a house, children to take care of, and so I thought of this idea of horticulture farming. I just started on a small piece of land, working with my own hands and grew my farm as I sold my produce,” Nuujoma said.
In 2018, he extended his farm after he bought a tractor and other soil preparation equipment through the ERFP loan from Agribank.
Invaluable support
“With this support from Agribank, I can now produce a variety of vegetables on a larger scale such as green peppers, onions, watermelons, cabbages, tomatoes and butternuts, just to mention a few.”
According to him, because of the income from the farm, he is able to send his children for further studies at institutions of higher learning. He also bought a new car, built a house and became his family’s breadwinner.
In addition, Nuujoma has five permanent employees on the farm and, during harvest, over 20 casual employees.
“In future, if God permits, I want to become a big and self-established horticulture farmer in the northern regions and I would love to create at least over 100 employment opportunities.”
Tomato worm outbreak
Currently, he is facing an outbreak of tomato worms that have destroyed a portion of his tomato plantation. He also highlighted the lack of access to the market as another challenge.
“I therefore plead to our government to at least try and find a market for us, where we can sell our produce in order to grow our business. This is the only source of income we have,” he said.
WINDHOEK
Elifas Nuujoma, a loan beneficiary of Agribank’s Emerging Farmers Retail Financing (ERFP), said his life changed for the better when he started farming.
Nuujoma farms in the Olushandja area, between Epalela and Onesi in the Omusati Region.
He was jobless and had been struggling to earn an income for his family when in 2005 he capitalised on his land and ventured into horticulture.
“When I was unemployed, I was always thinking of ways to sustain my family. I have a house, children to take care of, and so I thought of this idea of horticulture farming. I just started on a small piece of land, working with my own hands and grew my farm as I sold my produce,” Nuujoma said.
In 2018, he extended his farm after he bought a tractor and other soil preparation equipment through the ERFP loan from Agribank.
Invaluable support
“With this support from Agribank, I can now produce a variety of vegetables on a larger scale such as green peppers, onions, watermelons, cabbages, tomatoes and butternuts, just to mention a few.”
According to him, because of the income from the farm, he is able to send his children for further studies at institutions of higher learning. He also bought a new car, built a house and became his family’s breadwinner.
In addition, Nuujoma has five permanent employees on the farm and, during harvest, over 20 casual employees.
“In future, if God permits, I want to become a big and self-established horticulture farmer in the northern regions and I would love to create at least over 100 employment opportunities.”
Tomato worm outbreak
Currently, he is facing an outbreak of tomato worms that have destroyed a portion of his tomato plantation. He also highlighted the lack of access to the market as another challenge.
“I therefore plead to our government to at least try and find a market for us, where we can sell our produce in order to grow our business. This is the only source of income we have,” he said.
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