The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the Capricorn Foundation, and the University of Namibia (UNAM) have teamed up to help farmers turn their crops into valuable products.

The three-day workshop held in the Hardap Region provided solar dryers and other tools to support sustainable farming and help farmers get ready for the market.

Since 2022, WFP and the Capricorn Foundation have worked together to address food waste and improve nutrition.

45 farmers, including young people and women from Stampriet, Schlip, Bernafay, and Maltahöhe, learnt how to process and preserve their crops.

They now know how to make carrot and beetroot juices, pickled beetroot, and vacuum-packed sliced carrots from locally grown carrots, tomatoes, and beetroot.

WFP Country Director, Officer in Charge Tiwonge Machiwenyika, said that adding value to crops not only makes them better for eating but also helps farmers create steady incomes.

This workshop was part of a bigger plan to reduce food waste and improve nutrition in Namibia by giving farmers better market access and boosting food security.

Professor Kenneth Matengu, who is the Vice Chancellor at UNAM, noted that combining academic knowledge with practical partnerships could make a real difference in social progress and food security.