Asparagus Agro-Processing Factory construction starts in Omusati

RUACANA, 22 SEP – The construction of the first-ever Namibian Asparagus Agro-Processing Factory was launched at Ruacana in the Omusati Region on Friday.
The factory, at its full implementation, will be sustained by a 360-hectare (ha) production area, while a 60 ha plantation is already underway at the Etunda Green Scheme Irrigation Project.
A trial research study for the plantation of asparagus in the Omusati Region started in 2015 and proved the viability of growing such a crop in the country.
Asparagus plantation will be carried out under the Green Scheme Policy adopted by the government in 2008 to improve national food security and propel agricultural production.
Officiating at the launch of the Asparagus Agro-Processing Factory construction works at Ruacana on Friday, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the primary role of government is to create an enabling environment.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said enabling environment is to be created by developing and improving the country’s policy and legislative with a clear purpose of facilitating profitable investments by the private sector.
“We continue to do so in consultation and close cooperation with the private sector so that the policies and laws which we develop are supportive of private sector’s competitiveness and growth,” the Namibian Premier said.
She further stated that the government will continue to streamline its processes to allow businesses to operate efficiently and competitively in carrying out their activities.
The challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequalities, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said, require faster and more equitable economic growth.
“It is only through faster and equitable economic growth that we can create more opportunities for employment and achieve more equitable distribution of income,” she explained.
She then pointed out that over the medium term expenditure framework, spanning 2018/19-2020/21, the government plans to invest about N.dollars 3.6 billion into the Agriculture/Green Scheme Sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry and a Spanish company, Industrias Alimentarias de Navarra in October last year signed a partnership agreement for 10-year Asparagus Agro-Processing Project in Namibia.
N.dollars 25 million will be invested for the building of the said processing factory.
(NAMPA)