The Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) has launched its first harvest demonstration information day for the Etunda banana trial research project in the Omusati region.

The project, which commenced with plantations in January of the previous year, has now reached a significant milestone: the majority of the bananas are ripe for harvest. 

Ripe bananas were harvested at the trial and farmers' day information-sharing event at Etunda and taken to a cold facility, where they undergo a controlled ripening process before being released to the market.

The initiative aims to assess the suitability of banana production in the Omusati Region, which is considered a frost-free zone and, therefore, potentially ideal for banana production.

Speaking at the event, NAB Chief Executive Officer Dr Fidelis Mwazi said the seedlings used in the project were sourced through tissue culture from the laboratory of AVAGRO, a key partner in the research and development of the banana trial.

Dr. Mwazi noted that Namibia currently imports approximately 7,000 metric tonnes of bananas.

This dependency has motivated NAB to initiate research into local banana production as part of its efforts to boost domestic supply.