Zambezi Governor, Lawrence Sampofu, has called for local and international investors to come forth and invest in the development of green schemes in that region, noting that the region has underutilized land that can be used to ensure national food sustainability.

Sampofu made the call while speaking to Nampa on Thursday where he highlighted that due to lack of funding, the region has not managed to develop close to 25 000 hectors of land donated to the council by traditional authorities for green scheme development.

The governor said there is 5000 hectares of land at Singalamwe in Kongola Constituency and 890 hectares at Kongola, 500 meters from Kwandu River. 2000 hectares of land was donated at Lyanshulu in Judea Lyabboloma Constituency and the area is adjacent to Kwandu River, while an additional 5000 hectares was donated at Sachona in Judea Lyabboloma Constituency, 1000 at Muyako in Katima Mulilo Rural and 10 000 hectares is availed at Lusese and Nankonde in the flood prone areas of Kabbe North /South Constituencies.

“The lesson we have learned from the COVID-19 are that if the borders completely close, we are going to starve. As such, we need to secure our own food production. We urgently need to ensure that we produce our own food and the Zambezi Region has the capacity to produce food to benefit the country. We have an abundance of water and land and if there is a political will, Zambezi can produce,” Sampofu said.

Reached for comment the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry’s Executive Director, Percy Misika, said government will not be able to fund the development of the said land any time soon.

“We are aware of the pieces of land, but resources are not adequate, and we cannot start new green scheme projects when we are already struggling to adequately fund ongoing green schemes. That would be like throwing a stone in the bush to kill three birds knowing it’s impossible,” he said, adding that the while government is trying to expand irrigation and green schemes in the country, they are faced by multiple issues such as drought, flooding, locust outbreaks, army worms, foot and mouth diseases among many others, which too require resources.

“It is not possible to expect government alone to ensure food security in the country. Government is doing its best with the little we have and it is now up to us, as individuals and as the private sector to play our part.”

Source: Namibia Press Agency