A family from Otjinene in the Omaheke Region has embarked on a gardening project to create jobs for fellow rural residents.

The Fraser family has invested about N$1.5 million to date in their fruit and vegetable enterprise, overseeing more than 20 hectares of garlic and cabbage fields and employing 12 locals. 

Speaking to nbc News team at Ozonduno Village, Steve Frazer says this is a unique project for the area, as most other farmers plant maize and cowpeas. 

He says the demand for fruits and vegetables is ever more visible in the country, with most of that consumed imported from South Africa. "There is such a demand for gardening and vegetables in our market right now, it's just a matter of people learning about it and getting experience and people sharing the knowledge. Anything that we learn, we have no problem passing on to the next person. Basically, we see potential, and the government is also screaming for people to start these kinds of projects."

Every enterprise has its own set of challenges, and in the case of farming, pesticides and water are constant considerations.

The Otjinene Councillor, Erwin Katjizeu, says a project such as this serves to represent the constituency, hence his office's firm support through providing drilling equipment and an additional borehole. "Therefore, as a regional councillor of the constituency, our office is supporting the project fully with regard to borehole drilling. They have applied. As you know, in gardening, water is priority number one. Therefore, as an office, we decided to sponsor them with the drilling of a new borehole.

Katjizeu urged fellow residents to join the Frazer family in developing more unique projects that will benefit the constituency's development.