N$1,5b blueberry project planned for Divundu

Namibia Berries is planning to invest N$1,5 billion in seven years to establish a 250-hectare blueberry export project near Divundu in Kavango East region.

The company, a subsidiary of the South African venture capital company the Loxworth Capital plans to generate close to 800 jobs and 7 000 job opportunities during harvest seasons.

With backing from the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, the company already has 30 employees undergoing training, in readiness to kick-start the project.

The project owner also focuses on training people in the area to both work at their Divundu site and be able to cultivate fruit and vegetables at home.

According to foodbusinessafrica.com investment in the farm will be provided by two large Spanish agri-food companies, Puliberries SL and Agricola SL, and Namibia Berries expects to export its first harvest in September 2024.

“This partnership, which also involves other European investors, aims to expand development and diversify production to include blackberries, as well as additional established sales channels,” a statement from Loxworth Capital, a Cape Town-based venture capital company, says of the project.

One of the first commercial blueberry projects in Namibia started on the banks of the Okavango River between Mashare and Mupapama villages in Kavango East, northern Namibia, in 2020.

The 20-hectare project was seen as a forerunner of other high-value crops that could be produced under irrigation in the semi-arid country, according to foodbusinessafrica.com, quoting Willem Mostert, the manager of Cherry Irrigation: “Namibia is in charge of the irrigation and fertigation management system for the project.”

Meanwhile, Knigstein Capital, through its investment vehicle Spitz Capital, is growing blueberries at Mashare Green Scheme. So far, the company has invested more than N$100 million and is planning to increase its investment to about N$1 billion in the next 10 years.

According to the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy, there is a strong production growth in recent years in southern African countries such as Zambia and Zimbabwe, and most recently in Namibia.

These countries have the advantage of harvesting fruit early and entering the European markets before South Africa can supply and when market prices are generally higher.

This growth is expected to continue in conjunction with expansion in other African countries in the next few years.

SUPERFOOD

Blueberries are enriched with many phytochemicals, including phenolic compounds.

This fruit is considered a “superfood”, as its bioactive compounds have many health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and vasoprotective effects.

These nutritional and health benefits make blueberries a high-demanding fruit globally. A high sugar content and a high acidity are essential for good-tasting blueberries.

In 2020, the global supply of blueberries stood at 1,4 million tonnes, from around 200 000ha planted across the world.

With this, the International Blueberry Organisation projects that world production will increase by 12,6% by 2024.

– email: matthew@namibian.com.na