WINDHOEK, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Elizabeth Nahambo Nakale from the Ouhwaala village in the Omusati region, Namibia, observed the propensity of dying crops due to drought in rural areas as adverse climate shocks take a toll on crops.
Namibia, a semi-arid country, has been experiencing persistent drought conditions for more than seven years, according to the 2022 Namibia Drought Assessment Report.
"People lost crops and livestock to natural disasters and struggled with basic meals. I wondered if there was a different way to farm," she said.
Nakale has strived to chart a new path for agriculture by first obtaining a certificate in horticulture and agronomy from Mashare Agricultural Training Institute in 2017. In August 2020, she participated in the government-run Etunda Green Scheme Irrigation Project in the Omusati Region, through which she had access to not only land but also an irrigation system.
"This meant I could grow crops and various vegetables with minimal worries if the rain did not fall," said the small-scale farmer.
The Namibian Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, through the scheme, also supported 205 small and medium-scale farmers at 11 green schemes with startup input, including seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, mentorship by green scheme farm managers, and accessibility to on-site farming machinery, according to Jona Musheko, the ministry spokesperson.
Farming within the green scheme project has bolstered Nakale's agricultural yields in just two years. On average, she harvests 77 metric tons of a variety of vegetables, 24,000 heads of cabbages, and 30 metric tons of maize grains on three hectares, more than she ever produced with subsistence crops.
Moreover, it has given rise to her entrepreneurial journey. Nakale sold farm produce in selected retail shops and to street vendors through her enterprise, Enna Farming Solutions, a contrast to her former efforts as a subsistence farmer who endured losses due to poor rain.
"I learned to manage administrative matters, cash inflows, expenses, liabilities and procure supplies such as pesticides," she said, holding a Higher Diploma in Agriculture which she later accomplished from the University of Namibia.
Aina Imalwa, another ambitious small-scale farmer at Etunda, is aware of the importance of green scheme irrigation projects. She diverted from hairdressing to farming at the national green scheme project in 2020. Growing vegetables and crops has generated revenue, which sustains her family. "I could not secure jobs and decided to explore new areas. Now, this is my lifeline."
Small-scale farmers who benefit from the scheme also helped create employment opportunities. Nakale now employs two full-time staff and ten casual workers during peak seasons.
