Farmers at Shadikongoro green scheme see strong sales

There is confusion over the plan to expand the Hardap green scheme with 50 hectares of land as agricultural officials in the ministry have opposed each other on the matter.

The acting manager of the Hardap green scheme says indications are that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has not yet awarded the tender to expand the Hardap green scheme.

Stefanus Iininga told The Namibian yesterday that he has not been informed if the tender has been awarded and this can surely be an indication that nothing has yet happened.

Meanwhile, the ministry’s spokesperson, Simon Nghipandula says, he too does not think the tender has been awarded.

He said he has been trying to get hold of the deputy director for agricultural engineering, Felix Ndinamwene – who can provide information on this, but he could not get hold of him.

When The Namibian got hold of Ndinamwene yesterday, he said the ministry has no plan to expand the Hardap green scheme.

During October last year, the former manager of the Hardap green scheme Lima Kativa said the ministry sent out a tender for the expansion of the Hardap green scheme with 50 hectares of irrigable land.

He said the main task of the company that would be awarded the contract will be de-bushing, levelling, setting up of flood irrigation and drainage channels.

He said the successful bidder will employ locals during the development of the land and afterwards, the green scheme will employ two to four permanent employees.

Kativa, who has now been deployed to Kavango East region as the assistant manager at the Shadikongoro green scheme, said once the contractor has been found and work is completed, the entire 50 hectares of land will be planted with lucerne in April this year.

The Hardap green scheme mainly focuses on the production of Lucerne, which is a long-term crop which thrives in hot conditions and is harvested every 45 days.

lucerne is rich in protein and the Hardap green scheme sells it to local farmers as well as to animal feed retailers in the country.

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