The Kavango West Regional Council continues to place youth empowerment among its priorities.

Governor Sirkka Ausiku, in her State of the Region Address (SORA) at Nkurenkuru, pointed out various programmes and initiatives geared towards youth empowerment.

The governor says the regional council supports 26 horticulture projects and is calling on financial institutions to invest more in agriculture.

Ausiku also called on the Nkurenkuru Town Council to introduce more urban agriculture, which she says has the potential to reduce youth unemployment.

"Although the region has identified and introduced these initiatives that can change the livelihood of our communities, the lack of technical and financial support from OMAS and financial institutions like the DBN and Agribank to local farmers, including our aspiring young business people and entrepreneurs, is still a challenge."

She noted that agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism remain key sectors to drive economic activity and create employment.

"And the region still believes that with good investment, those three sectors I mentioned can deliver a positive impact, help create employment, and address poverty, especially among our youth."

The governor is calling for the establishment of a seed processing plant where 46 seed growers in the region can market their grains.

Ausiku also points out that Mangetti Cattle Ranch has the potential for meat processing with over 13,000 cattle on its books.

"And we also want to try chili production, targeting the fishing industry in Erongo and ||Kharas regions, as well as helping us, especially at the Kavango Cattle Ranch, to mitigate the problem of elephants in the region. Under Operation Katemo, the office of the governor and the KWRC will continue to appreciate and award the best horticulture producers, including the youth. Currently, we have 26 horticulture gardens that are performing well."

On the social front, at least 17,000 children and 7,000 pensioners received government grants.

Ausiku says many eligible to receive grants were not benefiting due to a lack of national identity documents, which she says is a big challenge.

Ausiku thanked the Ministry of Mines and Energy for providing N$10 million for the rural electrification project this financial year.

She, however, says more still needs to be done as 50 schools and more than 300 communities in the predominantly rural region are without electricity.