Oshana to set up green schemes

THE government has directed the Oshana region to construct earth dams and establish green schemes to boost food security in the region.

Jekonia Nangolo, the chief regional planner at the Oshana Regional Council told The Namibian last week the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform and the National Planning Commission, had authorised the regional council to start constructing earth dams and set up greenschemes in its 11 constituencies.

“What is left is to devise an implementation plan. This process has however, not yet started because new councillors will have to be briefed on it and stakeholders consulted on how to implement the plan,” said Nangolo.

He said as the chief regional planner, he has started putting a few ideas on paper that would be the foundation of the implementation plan.

In October last year, Nangolo told The Namibian that Oshana regional leadership, including governor Elia Ilimari, regional and local councillors and the mayors of Oshakati, Ondangwa andOngwediva, had met several times and agreed that 44 earth dams and 44 green schemes be set up in the 11 constituencies of the region.

Sites for the earth dams and green schemes have already been identified by the regional leadership in consultation with the communities. “The idea is to contribute to food security as is part of the Oshana Regional Council Strategic Plan running from 2017 to 2022, which is in line with the Harambee Prosperity Plan, the fifth National Development Plan, and Vision 2030,” said Nangolo.

He said the Ogongo Agriculural College in Omusati region will be contacted to assist with setting up of the green schemes. People to work on the green schemes will be drawn from the communities in the region.

“They will be employed, trained, and production will be monitored,” said Nangolo.

The idea to construct earth dams and set up green schemes has been welcomed. An Ongwediva pensioner, Hossian Farrok. Farrok, believes agriculture production can greatly contribute to economic growth. “If there is water for agriculture, they should also plant fruit trees at the green schemes in addition to vegetables and mahangu. Such green schemes should employ young people, to keep them busy,” said Farrok, who owns an accommodation facility at Ongwediva and has a small backyard garden.