ALONG the dry Swakop riverbed is a ten-hectare oasis turning the desert green with 4 000 olive trees.
This is where two entrepreneurs, Eddy Angula and Wim van der Plaas, took a leap of faith eight years ago to enter into unchartered waters for Namibian business by establishing an olive grove to produce olives and olive oil for the Namibian market. Angula, who is the marketing manager of Swakop River Olives, says they started small with their own limited funds, with which they bought seeds from South Africa. ‘This was a challenging time indeed as we had to learn the business from scratch,’ Angula said. The two had to meticulously follow the process of proper soil preparation, planting and harvesting to ensure that the products are of a high international standard. It takes about two years for the olive trees to reach maturity and the fruit to be ready for harvest. The two spent the first six years planting and experimenting with various cultivars, and two years ago they reached full production. ‘The biggest challenge we faced was access to additional funding to acquire equipment such as a top-quality presser to provide good-quality olive oil which is free from any impurities,’ said Angula. Lady Luck smiled on them when the Ministry of Trade and Industry visited their operation in 2010.Impressed by the business, the ministry officials asked what their challenges were, and they requested storage tanks and air-conditioners. This request is now in the final stages of approval and they hope to take delivery soon. ‘This will enable us to further increase our production from the current 2 000 litres to 7 000 litres per harvest,’ Angula said.The budding entrepreneurs say that currently there is no competition in terms of olive oil production in Namibia, but they face competition from imported products on retailers’ shelves. They have, however, made inroads in this regard, and their products can now be found on the shelves of most major retailers at the coast and at selected lodges in the Karibib/Wilhemstal area. Their immediate plans are to expand and acquire additional land to increase production. Asked if they will be exporting their products any time soon, a visibly proud Angula said: ‘We are now very focused on the local market. There are tremendous opportunities for growth just within the local market. – Nampa
