Tomato factory essential
As a complement to the tinned fish industry, Vice-President Nickey Iyambo has urged for a tomato processing plant in Rundu.
Vice-President Nickey Iyambo has called on the agriculture ministry to construct a tomato processing factory at Rundu in the Kavango East Region.
Iyambo made the call when he toured the Sikondo Irrigation Green Scheme in the same region.
The farm produces crops such as wheat and maize and is also known for producing high-quality tomatoes, potatoes, beetroot, onions and butternut.
Iyambo said to add value, there is a need to construct a factory that could supply tomato puree to the fishing industry in Walvis Bay, which could use it in tinned fish.
Currently, processed tomato products are sourced from countries such as China and Brazil for use in tinned fish.
Iyambo said such a factory could process tomatoes and make tomato puree, paste or sauce and in so doing, create employment.
“In our journey to be food self-sufficient and food self-reliant as a country by 2030, we need to add value to our products and create employment for our people,” he said.
Sikondo Project Manager, Rustie Kleynhans welcomed the call, saying such a factory will also boost the income of the green scheme.
“We need a stable market for our produce,” he said.
Agriculture permanent secretary Misika was in favour of the idea.
Iyambo has visited all green scheme projects in both Kavango regions and also paid courtesy calls on the hompas (kings) of various traditional authorities during his visit, which started last weekThursday and ended yesterday.
NAMPA
Iyambo made the call when he toured the Sikondo Irrigation Green Scheme in the same region.
The farm produces crops such as wheat and maize and is also known for producing high-quality tomatoes, potatoes, beetroot, onions and butternut.
Iyambo said to add value, there is a need to construct a factory that could supply tomato puree to the fishing industry in Walvis Bay, which could use it in tinned fish.
Currently, processed tomato products are sourced from countries such as China and Brazil for use in tinned fish.
Iyambo said such a factory could process tomatoes and make tomato puree, paste or sauce and in so doing, create employment.
“In our journey to be food self-sufficient and food self-reliant as a country by 2030, we need to add value to our products and create employment for our people,” he said.
Sikondo Project Manager, Rustie Kleynhans welcomed the call, saying such a factory will also boost the income of the green scheme.
“We need a stable market for our produce,” he said.
Agriculture permanent secretary Misika was in favour of the idea.
Iyambo has visited all green scheme projects in both Kavango regions and also paid courtesy calls on the hompas (kings) of various traditional authorities during his visit, which started last weekThursday and ended yesterday.
NAMPA
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article