The construction of the first-ever Namibian asparagus agro-processing factory was launched at Ruacana in the Omusati region on Friday.
The factory, at its full implementation, will be sustained by a 360-hectare (ha) production area, while sixty hectors of asparagus at the Etunda green scheme irrigation project in the Omusati region will be ready for harvest in seven months.
Last year the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry signed a 10-year agreement with a Spanish company, Industrias Alimentarias de Navarra, trading as Otjimbele Agriculture to lease 60 hectares of irrigable land to grow asparagus.
An experimental research study for the plantation of asparagus in the Omusati region started in 2015 and proved viable to grow such a crop in the region. The asparagus will be exported to Spain, and other European countries and only about 5% will be consumed in Namibia.
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila who launched the factory on Friday said the production of asparagus is not only aimed for export purposes, but also at ensuring that small-scale farmers are assisted to engage in high-income crop production and thus increase the rural purchasing power.
“Our industrialisation and services development agenda requires efficient service delivery in all sectors of our economy as this will have a significant bearing on the overall competitiveness of our economy. We, therefore, expect all players in this sector to prioritise service excellence as a key characteristic of their business,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.
She further noted that when the government adopted the green scheme policy in 2008, it was to improve national food security and propel agricultural production. Currently, Namibia has 11 green scheme irrigation projects in the country. The green scheme initiative, she said, encourages the development of irrigation-based agronomic production with the aim of increasing the contribution of agriculture to the country’s gross domestic product and to simultaneously achieve the social development and upliftment of communities.
Carlos Lertxundi, general manager for Otjimbele Agriculture who are running the project, said the real impact to the economy and development of Omusati region would be noticeable when they accomplish the full implementation phase.
“It will be when more than 800 (people will be employed) and more than 200 containers are yearly exported through the port of Walvis Bay,” said Lertxundi.
To reach this full implementation phase, he said the company would need an extra 300 hectares.
Lertxundi said the company would also teach local people how to cultivate asparagus, how to elaborate a natural preserve which will give the opportunity for local businesses to flourish while supplying any need related with the processing factory.
“I would like to gladly inform the public that, in less than one year, we will test together the first canned Namibian asparagus,” he asserted.
Spain’s ambassador to Namibia, Javier Romera, was also present at the groundbreaking ceremony.
