Inmates produce food worth millions
Inmates at various correctional facilities countrywide, produced food worth N$19 million, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Daniel Kashikola has said.
Kashikola while tabling the ministry’s N$5.7 billion budget for the 2021/22 financial year in the National Assembly on Monday said this has saved the government millions of dollars on food expenses for inmates and trial awaiting offenders.
He said the most significant produce came from Divundu Correctional Facility where prisoners produced N$15 million worth of maize, followed by Hardap and Oluno Correctional Facilities, where N$2.9 worth of pork was produced, and beef worth N$190 766 was produced from Evaristus Shikongo Correctional Facility.
The expenditure to produce the food was N$8.1 million most of which was spent on fertilisers.
“As at 31 December 2020, the Department had a stock of cattle, goats, sheep, pigs including maize and wheat to the value of N$7.1 million,” the deputy minister said.
NCS spokesperson, Commissioner Sam Shaalulange, said the main aim of the food production projects at various correctional facilities is to transfer skills and rehabilitate offenders so that they are self-sustainable and disciplined when they are released after serving the terms.
He said they strive to get to a stage where correctional facilities across the country are self-sustainable when it comes to food and can meet all dietary requirements through these projects.
“If we can get more land, we will do wonder just for this country. We want to get to a point where we do not buy food to feed offenders and we want to be able to provide for schools and other government institutions, but the land is a problem. We have been in talks to acquire more land for us to extend the projects but it is taking time,” he said. - Nampa
Kashikola while tabling the ministry’s N$5.7 billion budget for the 2021/22 financial year in the National Assembly on Monday said this has saved the government millions of dollars on food expenses for inmates and trial awaiting offenders.
He said the most significant produce came from Divundu Correctional Facility where prisoners produced N$15 million worth of maize, followed by Hardap and Oluno Correctional Facilities, where N$2.9 worth of pork was produced, and beef worth N$190 766 was produced from Evaristus Shikongo Correctional Facility.
The expenditure to produce the food was N$8.1 million most of which was spent on fertilisers.
“As at 31 December 2020, the Department had a stock of cattle, goats, sheep, pigs including maize and wheat to the value of N$7.1 million,” the deputy minister said.
NCS spokesperson, Commissioner Sam Shaalulange, said the main aim of the food production projects at various correctional facilities is to transfer skills and rehabilitate offenders so that they are self-sustainable and disciplined when they are released after serving the terms.
He said they strive to get to a stage where correctional facilities across the country are self-sustainable when it comes to food and can meet all dietary requirements through these projects.
“If we can get more land, we will do wonder just for this country. We want to get to a point where we do not buy food to feed offenders and we want to be able to provide for schools and other government institutions, but the land is a problem. We have been in talks to acquire more land for us to extend the projects but it is taking time,” he said. - Nampa
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