Prison produces over a tonne of veggies

THE Omaruru Correctional Facility’s backyard garden produces enough vegetables for own consumption, as well as to supply other facilities within the region.

Towards the end of last year, the facility produced about 1 359 kg of vegetables.

This is according to Namibia Correctional Service (NCS) spokesperson commissioner Sam Shaalulange.

Shaalulange said in an NCS newsletter that despite the facility being small and only able to accommodate less than 100 inmates, the inmates are working hard to complement their existing meals with more nutritious foods, while harnessing their gardening skills which can be employed once they are released.

The facility is situated on the southern bank of the Omaruru River, and sits on a plot 1,5 hectares in size.

The garden produces different crops, such as cabbage, spinach, butternut, pumpkin, watermelon, carrots, beetroot, squashes and onions.

“Between October and December 2021, the facility, produced about 1 359 kg of vegetables. The Omaruru Police Station, the Walvis Bay Correctional Facility as well as the Lucius S Mahoto Correctional Service Training College were among the institutions that benefited from the facility’s harvest,” he said.

In the newsletter, farm manager at the facility and senior correctional officer Sylvia Amoongo said she is happy with the harvest.

“The planting of onions was actually just a pilot to see if we could add onions to the list of vegetables being grown at the facility, as we have never produced onions before,” Amoongo said.

Over the years, the NCS has been producing food on a large scale and more than what is needed by inmates, proving once again that investment in penal agriculture can help to significantly improve food security in the country, Shaalulange said.

“Currently, the NCS has four major food producing correctional facilities, namely; Divundu, Evaristus Shikongo, Hardap and Oluno Correctional Facilities,” he added.

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