Tomato canning factory needed at Rundu
Vice-president Nickey Iyambo has called on the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry to construct a tomato-processing factory at Rundu in the Kavango East Region.
Iyambo made the call on Saturday when he toured the Sikondo Irrigation Project in that region.
This farm produces crops such as wheat and maize and is also known for producing tomatoes, potatoes, beetroot, onions and butternuts.
Iyambo said to add value, there is a need for a factory that could supply tomato puree to the fishing industry in Walvis Bay, which could use it in tinned fish.
Currently, processed tomato products are sourced from countries such as China and Brazil for use in tinned fish.
Iyambo said such a factory could process tomatoes and make tomato puree, paste or sauce while creating jobs.
“In our journey to be food self-sufficient and food self-reliant as a country by 2030, we need to add value to our products and create employment for our people,” he said.
Sikondo project manager Rustie Kleynhans welcomed the call, saying such a factory would also boost the income of the irrigation scheme.
“We need a stable market for our produce,” he said.
Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry permanent secretary Percy Misika was in favour of the idea.
Iyambo has visited all Green Scheme projects in both Kavango regions and also called on the chiefs of several traditional authorities during his visit, which started on Thursday and ended yesterday.
On Saturday, he visited the Uvungu-vungu and Mashare irrigation schemes, and on Sunday he toured the Ndonga Linene, Shitemo and Shadikongoro green schemes in Kavango West.
NAMPA
Iyambo made the call on Saturday when he toured the Sikondo Irrigation Project in that region.
This farm produces crops such as wheat and maize and is also known for producing tomatoes, potatoes, beetroot, onions and butternuts.
Iyambo said to add value, there is a need for a factory that could supply tomato puree to the fishing industry in Walvis Bay, which could use it in tinned fish.
Currently, processed tomato products are sourced from countries such as China and Brazil for use in tinned fish.
Iyambo said such a factory could process tomatoes and make tomato puree, paste or sauce while creating jobs.
“In our journey to be food self-sufficient and food self-reliant as a country by 2030, we need to add value to our products and create employment for our people,” he said.
Sikondo project manager Rustie Kleynhans welcomed the call, saying such a factory would also boost the income of the irrigation scheme.
“We need a stable market for our produce,” he said.
Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry permanent secretary Percy Misika was in favour of the idea.
Iyambo has visited all Green Scheme projects in both Kavango regions and also called on the chiefs of several traditional authorities during his visit, which started on Thursday and ended yesterday.
On Saturday, he visited the Uvungu-vungu and Mashare irrigation schemes, and on Sunday he toured the Ndonga Linene, Shitemo and Shadikongoro green schemes in Kavango West.
NAMPA
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