Africa-Press – Namibia. Maria David
THE Ministry of Agriculture has to outsource the countries’ eleven green schemes in order to turn them into profitable and highly productive facilities, said Minister Calle Schlettwein.
He made the remarks during the Governors’ Forum held at Katima Mulilo on Wednesday.
He said that his ministry has no intention to dispose of the green schemes as is being widely alleged.
The ministry’s plan is to offer the schemes to local and international investors with the sole purpose of making them productive thereby ensuring food security for the country and for export purposes.
Schlettwein said that the idea is to attract investors who will be able to invest in the schemes.
At stake are the green scheme farms at the Orange River, Hardap Dam, Etunda, Musese, Sikondo, Vhungu-Vhungu, Ndonga-Linena, Mashare, Shadikongoro, Kalimbeza and Shitemo.
The Agricultural Business Development (AgriBusDev) was established in 2011 to monitor and create an ideal environment for achieving the objectives of the green schemes as defined by the Green Scheme Policy of 2008.
However, Government has noted over the years that AgriBusDev was struggling to run the schemes.
The minister made reference to an unaligned administration model that made it hard for the company to be profitable.
He said that investment is possible. “We those who can invest in the schemes to ensure high production and self sustainability,” he said.
He also revealed that Cabinet has already decided that all the eleven green schemes be reverted back to ministry.
He explained that much of the infrastructure is now dilapidated and requires reinvestment to turn them into productive facilities.
Schlettwein said the 1st request for proposals (RFP) for Uvhungu Vhungu Diary has closed and the ministry is currently evaluating the bids.
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