The United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative to Namibia, Alka Bhatia, has encouraged beneficiaries of the Urban Agricultural Project to use technology to market their produce.

Bhatia during a site visit to the project at Swakopmund on Tuesday advised: “This is how we want to take it forward so that even when consumers are unable to come to you or you go to them, there is still a venue for you to market your products, also making it an incentive for you to continue to produce more vegetables.”

The project was launched by the UNDP in partnership with the Municipality of Swakopmund and funded by the Japanese Government in June 2021, due to the growing population in urban areas which means an increase in food insecurity and nutrition deficiency in the urban areas.

“It was also a way to empower and capacitate all the young and middle-aged that are able and willing to start growing their own food. This project also supports the Buy Local campaign which is currently ongoing in the country,” Bhatia noted.

The project according to UNDP does not just aim to promote nutrition and the ability to make one’s food, it also strives to assist in having beneficiaries make a living from the produce by selling them.

There are currently 25 beneficiaries who are part of the project, producing spinach, cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes and other products, which are consumed and sold locally.

Meanwhile, Deputy Head of Mission for the Japanese Embassy in Namibia Ichiro Shimogaite at the same event, expressed hope that the knowledge acquired through training in horticulture and poultry will not remain in small circles, but will be transferred further to other farmers.

The beneficiaries represented by Emilie Mwetako expressed that the project has potential to become one of the biggest fresh hubs in the country.

“Our future plans are to support the local community with backyard gardens and schools as part of our outreach programme to share our skills and knowledge. We are also looking forward to marketing a backyard garden starter kit, including raised beds made from wooden pallets and seedlings,” Mwetako said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency