The $12 million community garden project to address food insecurity in the Kunene Region has officially been handed over by Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister, Pohamba Shifeta.
The 16-hectare garden at Fransfontein is focused on both horticultural and dryland crop production.
The Fransfontein Community Garden, established by the Environmental Investment Fund through the IREMA project, will benefit more than 1,700 people in the settlement.
Through the funding, a solar-powered electric fence will be put around the garden, as well as a solar plant, water reservoir, two boreholes, a drip irrigation system, and an automated weather station.
"The project investment has changed the food production landscape in Fransfontein. The Fransfontein Community Garden covers an area of 16 hectares and is focused on both horticultural and dryland crop production. As we can all see, this garden has been tremendously upgraded. To ensure the sustainability of this project, a mentorship programme has been developed targeting the beneficiaries," said Shifeta.
Shifeta applauded the success of the IREMA project that has since 2020 rehabilitated nine boreholes in the Fransfontein area at a cost of more than N$2,4 million to help ease access to water for both human and livestock consumption.
The funding includes another N$1,7 million for the distribution of 1055 goats to vulnerable farmers in the region.
"I take immense pleasure to note that our national resource mobilisation efforts on climate finance are now rewarding and bearing fruit. The handover of these productive community projects is a strong demonstration that such resources are reaching the intended beneficiaries. In addition, it shows that Namibia is on track to achieve the national environmental agenda and meet her international obligations while simultaneously achieving her objective of improving community livelihoods."
On behalf of the Fransfontein Community Garden, Martzia Haraes said, "On September 28th we had our very first harvest that benefited both the beneficiaries of the garden and the community at large. This is a beautiful garden that has been created. Job opportunities have been created as well, which will help with food security in the future."
One of the livestock donation beneficiaries, Enambura Kaumunika, shared her joy, "I don't know how to express this but I feel so good to have received the goats and I say thank you to the almighty that he heard my prayers. It's through his grace that I received these goats, so I am just saying thank you, Lord."
Shifeta called on the beneficiaries to fully utilize the donations and not allow them to be misused and turned into white-elephants.