About 20 tonnes of maize are expected to be harvested at farm Nangenda in the Omusati region by the end of August.
The farm has already started packaging about nine tonnes of butternuts and eight tonnes of pumpkins.
Farm owner Sheetuuka Sheetuuka, who is also the chairperson of the Olushandja Horticulture Producers Association, says the farm’s production comes as the association prepares to train aspiring horticulture producers.
Sheetuuka says he has been receiving calls from people across the country who want to start horticulture projects, but lack the basic knowledge to do so.
“I decided I will give training to these people on different types of seeds, what the right time to plant is, which fertilisers to apply, and how land is prepared so they can acquire the basic knowledge to prosper,” he says.
The training will take place at farm Nangenda, between Onesi and Epalela, from 31 July to 1 August.
Sheetuuka says many people are interested in pursuing horticulture, but lack guidance on how to begin.
So far, 20 people from different parts of the country have registered for the training. The training costs N$1 500 per person, covering the training and meals.
“We will also expose them to other farmers who are engaged in aquaculture and other farming practices. So, I decided to give face-to-face training,” Sheetuuka says.
Members of the association produce carrots, cabbages, watermelons, gem squash, butternuts, pumpkins, beetroot, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and onions.
Last October, the association appealed to the Omusati Regional Council to encourage companies supplying food to school hostels in the region to buy vegetables and other fresh produce from local farmers.
Sheetuuka says the association remains concerned that many catering companies continue to source produce from outside the region, while farmers in the region produce quality vegetables that often remain unsold.
