N$5.4 billion for irrigated land
The government plans to put 21 625 hectares under irrigation over the next 12 years, which will cost N$5.4 billion.
Additional grain storage facilities with a capacity of 44 100 tonnes need to be constructed during this period. This will cost N$100 million.
These are some of the goals set out in the country’s development plans, said agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb in a speech read on his behalf at the Agriculture Outlook Conference.
He said the sector is expected to put 27 000 hectares under irrigation by the year 2030 through the implementation of the Green Scheme Programme.
!Naruseb said 5 3 74 hectares are under irrigation at the moment.
The development of other irrigation projects such as Katima/Liselo in the Zambezi Region, Neckartal and Tandjeskoppe in the Karas Region, Zone in Kavango West, as well as the expansion of Etunda Phases 7 and 8 in the Omusati Region are in the pipeline.
“Such developments are made with a view to increasing land under irrigation and subsequently increasing food production,” said !Naruseb.
The ministry has established fresh-produce hubs at Rundu and Ongwediva, while the construction of the Windhoek Fresh Produce Business Hub is in progress.
The minister said Namibia’s annual demand for horticulture products is about 74 000 tonnes, of which only 24 000 tonnes are produced locally. About 50 000 tonnes are imported.
“The programme is therefore aimed at altering the substantial reliance of imports for Namibian fresh produce consumption and actively seeks to develop the internal capacity for production, marketing, distribution, processing and export.”
This programme will facilitate collection, sorting, grading, packaging and distribution of perishable produce. Produce that is unsuitable for packaging will be processed.
!Naruseb further said the ministry was constructing strategic food reserve facilities with a view to intervening in the food market in case of increased food prices which may undermine access to food by the poor.
The existing food reserve facilities have a storage capacity of 22 900 tonnes and are available in the five grain-producing regions. The Zambezi Region has a storage capacity of 7 400 tonnes, Kavango East 4 000 tonnes, Ohangwena 4 500 tonnes, Oshikoto 4 000 tonnes and Omusati 3 000 tonnes.
!Naruseb said by 2030 Namibia is expected to have a national grain storage capacity of 67 000 tonnes, which will be able to sustain the country for 12 months. Therefore additional strategic facilities with a capacity of 44 100 tonnes need to be built at a cost of N$100 million.
ELLANIE SMIT
Additional grain storage facilities with a capacity of 44 100 tonnes need to be constructed during this period. This will cost N$100 million.
These are some of the goals set out in the country’s development plans, said agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb in a speech read on his behalf at the Agriculture Outlook Conference.
He said the sector is expected to put 27 000 hectares under irrigation by the year 2030 through the implementation of the Green Scheme Programme.
!Naruseb said 5 3 74 hectares are under irrigation at the moment.
The development of other irrigation projects such as Katima/Liselo in the Zambezi Region, Neckartal and Tandjeskoppe in the Karas Region, Zone in Kavango West, as well as the expansion of Etunda Phases 7 and 8 in the Omusati Region are in the pipeline.
“Such developments are made with a view to increasing land under irrigation and subsequently increasing food production,” said !Naruseb.
The ministry has established fresh-produce hubs at Rundu and Ongwediva, while the construction of the Windhoek Fresh Produce Business Hub is in progress.
The minister said Namibia’s annual demand for horticulture products is about 74 000 tonnes, of which only 24 000 tonnes are produced locally. About 50 000 tonnes are imported.
“The programme is therefore aimed at altering the substantial reliance of imports for Namibian fresh produce consumption and actively seeks to develop the internal capacity for production, marketing, distribution, processing and export.”
This programme will facilitate collection, sorting, grading, packaging and distribution of perishable produce. Produce that is unsuitable for packaging will be processed.
!Naruseb further said the ministry was constructing strategic food reserve facilities with a view to intervening in the food market in case of increased food prices which may undermine access to food by the poor.
The existing food reserve facilities have a storage capacity of 22 900 tonnes and are available in the five grain-producing regions. The Zambezi Region has a storage capacity of 7 400 tonnes, Kavango East 4 000 tonnes, Ohangwena 4 500 tonnes, Oshikoto 4 000 tonnes and Omusati 3 000 tonnes.
!Naruseb said by 2030 Namibia is expected to have a national grain storage capacity of 67 000 tonnes, which will be able to sustain the country for 12 months. Therefore additional strategic facilities with a capacity of 44 100 tonnes need to be built at a cost of N$100 million.
ELLANIE SMIT
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