A scientist at Avagro near Swakopmund has been exploring options for growing disease-free bananas and date palms to help Namibian farmers diversify their crops and get better yields. Through a process called tissue culture, Frieda Shigwedha says Avagro's plan is to train local people on how to cultivate bananas and create jobs for themselves.

AvaGro scooped the Master Crop Value Chain award as the Actor of the Year during the Namibian Agronomic Board's National Agronomy and Horticulture Awards Ceremony, held at Mashare in the Kavango East Region.

The National Agronomy and Horticulture Awards honoured and recognised the contributions made by various crop value chain actors towards the growth of the agronomy and horticulture industries.

This year, 42 actors took part, and AvaGro from the central production zone scooped the Master Crop Value Chain Actor of the Year award.