Namibia's top agricultural innovators were recognised on Wednesday at the Agripreneurial Innovation Challenge Finale and Awards Ceremony, where 28-year-old self-taught innovator Kakunadunda Katuuo from Aminuis, founder of Orevia Green Farms, walked away with the N$150,000 first prize.
The challenge, implemented by NGIN in partnership with UNIDO and the Capricorn Foundation, celebrated ten innovators whose climate-smart solutions aim to strengthen Namibia's agricultural value chain, improve food systems and create jobs.
"And if you're an innovation company, and by that I mean you're creating something different, you're adding value-adding to a product, and your company is likely to create five times more jobs than a retail company. So entrepreneurs are really an economic development engine that is not well understood," says Network for Innovation's CEO, Fred Waltin.
The Capricorn Foundation sponsored an award pool of N$280,000, with prizes awarded to the top three innovators, as well as a special Best Women-Led Innovation Award.
Marlize Horn is the corporate manager for the Capricorn Foundation.
"At the Capricorn Foundation, we really value the entrepreneurial spirit that we have in Namibia. It is one of Namibia's most powerful development pathways in our view. It creates income, like Fred also alluded to, employment and local value addition."
28-year-old self-taught innovator Kakunadunda Katuuo of Orevia Green Farms walked away with the N$150,000 first prize at the Agripreneurial Innovation Challenge Finale and Awards Ceremony on Wednesday.
She shares how her innovation addresses challenges in agriculture and its potential impact.
"My problem is that 1.3 million Namibians are food insecure. And food shortages are among the top three crises that we face in Namibia. And we import most of our food produce, and that is due to low local production. And at Oravia Green Farms, we solve that problem by producing climate-smart vegetables, thus creating sustainable food security and bridging the gap for the imports within Namibia. This competition or this win is going to impact our business. I'm actually super excited for this because we are now going to scale."
Abner Tomas claimed second place and N$75,000, while Elizabeth Kambonde of Lizwise Investment took third place and N$50,000. Maria Kativa received the Best Women-Led Innovation Award and N$5,000 in absentia.
The programme supports entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions that contribute to sustainable agriculture, food security and economic growth in Namibia.