200 households get N$400 000 for food garden

The Capricorn Foundation has provided N$400 000 to fund a project that will help Omusati region communities to produce their own food.

The project, titled ‘Gardening to Counter Prevailing Malnutrition in the Omusati Region’, is in partnership with the Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) Namibia.

The N$400 000 will go towards funding 200 households in the Anamulenge and Ogongo constituencies by providing trees, seedlings, essential gardening tools and capacity-building training.

This is according to a statement issued by the foundation yesterday.

“During a recent visit to Outapi, the Capricorn Foundation noted the project’s remarkable progress in promoting sustainable agriculture and increasing household food production,” reads the statement.

Currently, the project has 210 households registered, and 175 gardens were established with vegetables like beetroots, carrots, onions, kale, spinach, green peppers, chillies, eggplants, potatoes, tomatoes, and herbs like coriander, parsley, dill and basil.

Moreover, 50 households received gardening tools, 11 were provided with shade nets, one received a wheelbarrow, and 50 received watering cans.

“This initiative, which encompasses the Anamulenge and Ogongo constituencies, engages 200 households across ten community clusters. It encourages the establishment of backyard gardens in villages such as Omahalya, Ehungaelo, and Omunghozi,” says the statement.

DAPP National Partnership Team head Kirsten Jensen says the project promotes food security, self-sufficiency and improved nutritional well-being in vulnerable communities.

“This project is more than just gardens; it is about empowering families and communities to thrive.

With Capricorn Foundation’s support, we equip households with the skills and knowledge to ensure year-round food availability and an understanding of nutrition for better health,” says Jensen.