WFP empowers Epako with vegetable garden

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is cultivating vegetables and greens in the Epako community in Gobabis as a sustainable way to empower community members and promote access to healthy food. The WFP&#039;s Integrated Food System Project at Epako Clinic aims to address the issue of malnutrition in the community of approximately 9 500 members."This is one way to empower community members who do not have access to or money to purchase healthy food in the formal sector. This is a sustainable way to ensure that communities can sustain themselves and have a healthy and balanced diet," said the WFP&#039;s programme associate for biotechnology and food fortification, Shange-Ndamona Mungoba.The project has installed drip irrigation, a pressure pump and a 10 000-litre tank as a water reservoir. It has also installed a 20 x 30m shade net to plant vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, beets and onions.The project was implemented with an initial setup cost of US$20 000 out of the total US$100 000 funding from Brazil.To effectively manage the project and training, the WFP collaborated with the Namibian Association of Aspiring Farmers.Expected outcomeAccording to the WFP, the expected outcome of the project at Epako is to strengthen local food markets, reduce levels of malnutrition, promote access to a healthy diet, generate income and encourage more women and young people from small-scale farming households to actively contribute to the development of a sustainable food system. The upgrade of the food system at Epako has already been discussed, and the WFP aims to provide solar dryers to extend the shelf life of products as well as a scale to weigh the vegetables. The maintenance and repair of shade nets are also on the agenda.Work in NamibiaThe WFP has been involved in Namibia since 1990, facilitating the transfer of knowledge on food security in collaboration with the government and developing nutrition programmes.Since 2021, the WFP has implemented 34 food system projects nationwide, supporting skills development in the areas of horticulture and poultry production, as well as innovation and technology.In the Hardap Region, it collaborated with Roots to launch a school feeding system by providing seeds, infrastructure and technical assistance."In November 2022, the project harvested 812 kg of beets and 248 kg of carrots. The project generated approximately N$25 000 in income," a report by the WFP stated. It also responded to the wheat shortage by supporting the first wheat production at the Ondera resettlement farm&#039;s food system project, providing optimal nutrition to over 400 community members.

WFP empowers Epako with vegetable garden

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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WFP empowers Epako with vegetable garden

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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