Farmers in the Zambezi Region are slowly developing interest in fruit farming, with notable fruit orchards popping up in various communities after realising the business potential in fruit farming.
Fruit farming has taken root among the subsistence farmers in the Zambezi Region, whose interest was previously centred on crop farming.
One of the farmers, Calicious Simone from Singalamwe, has, over the past three years, invested in fruit farming.
"This is a living bank; these bananas are going to be here for more than ten years. What will happen here is only that we cut this one once it bears fruit, and we leave the other one, and so it goes and goes. Now when it comes to mangoes, mangoes stay for more than 100 years. That is wealth if people can invest in it."
The farm has more than 2,000 banana plants, 4,000 mangoes, and 500 guava plants, as well as small quantities of other fruit varieties sourced from neighbouring countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Eswatini.
Simone says the next phase for his farm is to introduce value addition.
"That is the primary focus; you can't produce without adding value; otherwise, post-harvest losses will encounter them. If you encounter them, it is with ignorance because once you have even 100 trees, value addition is a must. It is only one or two trees that you cannot add value to, so we are very serious about value addition."
Simone noted that the Zambezi Region has a competitive advantage because the soil is suitable for growing most fruits.
He expressed gratitude to stakeholders who are giving his orchard financial and technical support.
"The NAB, Namibia Agronomic Board, they have a bigger vision; that vision is that they want to see fruits and vegetables flourishing. Once we engaged them, they have shown their willingness to support on the ground; that is, to give the seedlings and also visits, technical visits, and advice. It is a lot; we have them in the region, and they are doing a lot."
Simone has encouraged other farmers to turn the Zambezi Region into a flourishing food basket.