The Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Modestus Amutse, has reminded Naute Irrigation Farm management to run the operation profitably and make a meaningful contribution to the country’s GDP.
He made the call during his visit to the farm as part of his familiarisation visit to ||Kharas Region.
Managed by the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA), the government-owned farm produces grapes, prickly pears, dates and pomegranates.
"We are working around business unusual. This is unusual, as Her Excellency always advises us to say if Plan B has never been working for us and has never been allowing us to make a profit. And if it is not the correct plan, then you plan over to Plan C or A. And that is what we have to do. Usually we like doing things the traditional way even though it is not working to our benefit," remarked Amutse.
The farm manager, Simon Akwenye, cited the high cost of electricity and water as a key challenge.
"Of course we have a challenge of employees' health and safety. And we also, given the size of our farm, and also considering that probably five years ago, there were only a few trees produced. But now we have got another phase that has come into production, and the trees are becoming higher every everyday or every year. So, we don't have sufficient material and equipment to state harvest our fruits."
Akwenye pointed out remedial measures to the challenges, such as setting up a solar energy plant, drilling boreholes to access underground water, strengthening the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and acquiring additional machinery.
Minister Amutse also expressed condolences to the family of a worker who died in a tragic work-related incident at the farm last week.
"What is important is that officials or employees here, those responsible for safety, are tasked to ensure that no activity will take place without proper adherence to safety rules. I take it that would then keep the lives of our employees at least safe. We don't want whatever happened to repeat itself again because we don't want to lose any life in the exercise of work. It is a regrettable incident that happened, and of course we pay homage to the relatives, friends and co-employees and indeed to the entire management of NIDA here."
The minister also announced the NID will provide financial assistance to the deceased worker's family to cover funeral costs.
Operations at the farm were suspended on Thursday and Friday to allow workers to grieve the death of their colleague, with work set to resume on Monday.