Decreased maize prices worry Sikondo
The Sikondo irrigation scheme in the Kavango West Region is in need of N$1.2 million to buy additional resources to raise the pH levels of the soil.
Soil pH or soil reaction is an indication of the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. The lower the pH levels, the more acidic the soil. This could lead to big losses in production.
In an interview with Nampa, Sikondo Project Manager Rustie Kleynhans explained that the pH levels of the soil on the farm are between 4.5 pH and 4.9 pH, which is low.
Preferably, it should be 6.1 pH and above.
“To rectify this, we need to mix limestone into the soil,” he said, adding that the project needs about two tonnes of limestone.
This they can buy from Tsumeb for N$1.2 million.
He pleaded with agriculture minister John Mutorwa to intervene, perhaps by helping to pay for the limestone as not treating the soil could aggravate the financial constraints at the project.
Last year, the project recorded a turnover of N$22 million, most of which went toward the expenses incurred for the day-to-day running of the farm.
Kleynhans said some of the challenges the project experience include the huge overhead costs due to the increase in prices of fertilisers, chemicals, seeds and electricity.
The project has been also affected by the decrease in maize prices.
The price of maize grain has dropped from N$6 100 per tonne last year to N$4 780 this year, which Kleynhans said is a great concern as maize is one of the commodities that generates a high income for the green scheme.
The Sikondo irrigation project is in the Kapako Constituency, which used to be one of the most poverty stricken constituencies in Kavango West.
The irrigation project covers 830 hectares of which 580 is used for commercial production. The remaining 250 hectares are allocated to medium-scale farmers.
The farm employs approximately 120 casual workers every month and has 38 permanent staff members.
NAMPA
Soil pH or soil reaction is an indication of the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. The lower the pH levels, the more acidic the soil. This could lead to big losses in production.
In an interview with Nampa, Sikondo Project Manager Rustie Kleynhans explained that the pH levels of the soil on the farm are between 4.5 pH and 4.9 pH, which is low.
Preferably, it should be 6.1 pH and above.
“To rectify this, we need to mix limestone into the soil,” he said, adding that the project needs about two tonnes of limestone.
This they can buy from Tsumeb for N$1.2 million.
He pleaded with agriculture minister John Mutorwa to intervene, perhaps by helping to pay for the limestone as not treating the soil could aggravate the financial constraints at the project.
Last year, the project recorded a turnover of N$22 million, most of which went toward the expenses incurred for the day-to-day running of the farm.
Kleynhans said some of the challenges the project experience include the huge overhead costs due to the increase in prices of fertilisers, chemicals, seeds and electricity.
The project has been also affected by the decrease in maize prices.
The price of maize grain has dropped from N$6 100 per tonne last year to N$4 780 this year, which Kleynhans said is a great concern as maize is one of the commodities that generates a high income for the green scheme.
The Sikondo irrigation project is in the Kapako Constituency, which used to be one of the most poverty stricken constituencies in Kavango West.
The irrigation project covers 830 hectares of which 580 is used for commercial production. The remaining 250 hectares are allocated to medium-scale farmers.
The farm employs approximately 120 casual workers every month and has 38 permanent staff members.
NAMPA
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