By Foibe Paavo
Swakopmund, Aug. 22 -– Charitable organisation Good Food Namibia, has developed a sustainable, smart agriculture programme to boost food production in the country.
Good Food Namibia is a Namibian initiative aiming to empower Namibians to implement and manage sustainable backyard gardens and contribute toward zero hunger in Namibia.
Good Food Namibia recognizes that Namibia is experiencing great food insecurity, leading to malnutrition. This is due to prolonged droughts, flooding, poverty and Covid-19 control measures on livelihoods.
As Namibia is an arid to semi-arid region with a sub-tropical ‘desert and savanna’ climate, characterized by a wide range in temperature, and by low rainfall and humidity, such an initiative would be highly beneficial to the local community.
Hence, Good Food Namibia comprehends the urgent need to take action toward food security, alleviate unemployment, and hunger and improve people’s living standards.
According to the Demographic Health Survey world report, 42.8% of Namibians are undernourished, and as unemployment takes its toll in the country, this agricultural initiative would empower individuals to grow their own food.
This will eventually make more food available to benefit low-income households.
The latest prevalence data also shows that 22.7% of children under five years of age are affected by the lack of nutritious food.
“So far we have managed to help more than 80 households and several schools to set up gardens,” said Good Food Namibia.
Earlier this year, Good Food Namibia also gave away spinach seedlings, as a part of a drive to motivate Namibians at the coast to start backyard vegetable gardens courtesy of World Environmental Day.
The organisation however said the biggest challenge they face is water availability in the arid desert.
“However, through smart partnerships with agricultural expertise, we manage to work on smart water gardening systems based on different types of soils that hold water for longer than normal soil.”
