The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), in partnership with the Gobabis municipality, has embarked on a N$1.4 million sustainable harvest and empowerment project, aimed at food security and generating employment for the locals.
The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, said the project is key to promoting food security, fostering local employment strategies, and promoting dialogue and partnerships among the diverse stakeholders, as it will improve local governance.
Sankwasa added that the initiative is also designed to assist vegetable gardens at key locations in the informal settlement, such as Kruger Camp, the Lady Pohamba Maternity Waiting Shelter, and the Val en Opstaan Kindergarten.
The project shall also transcend to include fencing a lucerne field.
Minister Sankwasa's speech was read on his behalf.
"The sustainable harvest and empowerment initiatives at this municipality are, in my opinion, a collaboratively driven project where the local authority, the development partner, and the community work together to create sustainable local economic growth, generate employment, and improve the quality of life for the residents of Gobabis and the Omaheke Region at large. Key aspects of this project include, among others, promoting food security, fostering local employment strategies, promoting dialogue, and improving partnership among the diverse stakeholders and local governance."
The Turkish Ambassador to Namibia, Feral Çekerek Oruçkaptan, stressed that her country has adopted a collaborative and humanitarian-oriented approach that prioritises fulfilling African countries' needs.
"The Turkish government decided to support Namibia in her efforts to overcome the adverse impacts of the climate crisis; as an immediate response in October 2024, my government provided food aid. Furthermore, TIKA's office decided to give priority in its 2025 programme to the project that supports sustainable climate crisis solutions. In this regard, vegetable gardens and greenhouses using solar-powered drip irrigation systems in three different locations in Gobabis were prepared and concluded."
The town's mayor, Melba Tjozongoro, maintained that TIKA's commitment to sustainable development and improving the lives of people is once again demonstrated through this multifaceted project.
"This event is a testament to the strong bond of friendship and cooperation between the people of the Republic of Turkey and the people of Namibia at large and Gobabis in particular; it shows what can be achieved when we work together towards a common goal."
Tjozongoro also encouraged all involved stakeholders to double their efforts on the project to make it a success.