A LOCAL company which produces organic fertiliser recently launched a new product to advance the growth of locally farmed produce.
Hafa Peak Investment is a local organic fertilising manufacturer based at Okahandja.
Company director Libolly Haufiku says the company’s key focus is to provide quality organic fertiliser and support healthy food products for Namibia’s booming organic market.
Haufiku says the company was established in 2020 and employs about 10 people, which he hopes would soon grow.
“After the final construction of our plant and the installation of large equipment, we will increase the number of workers to approximately 60,” he says.
Haufiku says the fertiliser is manufactured all year round.
“Our production capacity is expected to process and produce 1 000 tonnes of organic fertilisers every month, which is 12 000 tonnes of organic fertiliser a year,” he says.
Haufiku says although the company had a successful start with various international partnerships, it is faced with several challenges daily.
“Because this is a brand new patented technology from Taiwan, many people will try to compare our product with traditional compost, and secondly, there is a need to educate the Namibian public on the benefits of organic fertiliser,” he says.
Haufiku says they produce the organic fertiliser from chicken manure and various affordable raw materials which are locally supplied.
“We are currently buying chicken manure from Namib Poultry. The raw materials are easily available in Namibia. Any raw material that is degradable can be utilised to produce the fertiliser,” he says.
Haufiku says they supply their products to wholesalers, farmers and small markets.
He says they will soon start with exports to neighbouring countries, especially to Angola.
“In Africa we are first targeting the Southern African Development Community, and then to other parts of Africa,” he says.
Haufiku says he is grateful for the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, adding it is an instrument his company would take advantage of to penetrate the African market.
Haufiku says his company launched the new product in early May in Namibia, although it has been promoted in Taiwan for many years.
“We have completed all the registration licences of the product by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, and started promoting the product last week.
“Some 99% of the germs and insect eggs in raw materials are killed during the production process, and we can retain the nutrients of the raw materials,” he says.
Hauifku says the organic matter in organic fertiliser can improve Namibian soil.
“And our product’s organic matter content is greater than 75%, but in traditional compost it is less than 30%.
“According to the soil samples we collected at several towns and areas in the north for analysis, the organic matter is only about 20%. But this can increase to 60% within three months,” he says.
Namibia imported N$3,4 million worth of organic fertiliser last year, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency.
Email: shante@namibian.com.na
