Mushroom cultivation boosted

THE National Youth Council (NYC) received a sponsorship of N$40 000 from AgriBank, which will be used for youth training in mushroom cultivation.

The money will help four youth organisations to start with the mushroom project.The beneficiaries are Genhard Eshumba from the Erongo Youth Mushroom Project Usakos, Helena Naitsuwe Amadhila from the Karibib Youth Development Programme, Denys Kashana from the Oshikoto Youth Forum and Lucia Nghishoongele from the Eenhana Participatory Youth Club in the Ohangwena region.The start of the second phase of the project will be announced in due course.Speaking at a media conference to announce the successful youth applicants of the Mushroom Cultivation Grant, the NYC’s Head of Employment Promotion and Environmental Affairs, Kondjeni Ntinda, said that Agribank had supported the NYC’s mushroom cultivation projects before.In 2009, AgriBank sponsored mushroom projects to the tune of N$40 000 and more than 40 young people from all 13 regions were trained. ‘Young persons in Namibia are not generally accustomed to mushroom cultivation, but NYC and Agribank held fruitful consultations to stimulate the drive in mushroom farming,’ Ntinda said.’This initiative will help in the fight against youth unemployment as this type of trade can create sustainable income streams for young persons coupled with the provision of sufficient marketing and continued research and development,’ added Ntinda.’I call upon youth in Namibia to show interest and determination in being part of the youth development cause for a prosperous Namibia by taking mushroom farming as a realistic venture for self-reliance,’ Ntinda said.He appealed to those who received funding to continue with their mushroom cultivation as it had the potential to make Namibia a key player in the mushroom cultivation industry. Agribank General Manager for Marketing, Communication and Research, Regan Mwazi, said the bank appreciated that the NYC coordinated the project. ‘Agribank is happy to see young people in Namibia in the mushroom cultivation, we are used to see people cultivating maize, but now we are expanding to mushrooms, Agribank will continue to support the young people in Namibia,’ he added. – Nampa