Rundu has much potential for crop farming

NDAMA NAKASHOLE



Because of the high potential for crop farming in the Kavango East Region, there is a need for formalised agricultural training institutions offering both technical and management courses.

This is according to a report by research firm First Capital this week, which states that Rundu, which is located in that region, has much potential for crop farming.

The report says agricultural activities are common in Kavango East, mainly crop and livestock farming.

A significant number of residents interviewed indicated that they were involved in one of these agricultural activities, the report further says.

This is in line with the findings of the Household Income and Expenditure survey, which found that most families living in the region were engaged in agricultural activities.

According to the last census, 22.8% and 53% of households living in Kavango East were engaged in livestock and crop farming respectively. Only 7.8% of the region's households were engaged in poultry farming.



Crop farming

The Rundu area is suitable for crop production because of its soil type, high rainfall, conducive weather conditions and its rich water resources, the report further says.

Crop production, especially vegetable production, requires fertile soil, moderate temperatures and sufficient rain or water supply. The most common commercial crops produced in the region are wheat and maize, while mahangu is grown by communal farmers.

“National rainfall records indicate that Rundu is classified as one of the areas with above average rainfall in the country,” says First Capital in the report.

For example, over the past five years, Rundu received an average of 520 millimetres of rain per year, which meets the minimum recommended 450 and 330 millimetres of rainfall required for production of maize and mahangu, the most common rain-fed crops in the country.

However, the rainfall distribution throughout the growing season is a crucial factor determining yields. In addition to the good rainfall pattern at Rundu, the perennial Okavango River is a source of irrigation water that is utilised at commercial agricultural projects.



Challenges

Most of the irrigation schemes in Kavango East face similar challenges such as high cost of electricity, access to capital due to lack of collateral and government subsidies, high transport and fuel costs, cash-flow problems, high input costs (fertilisers, pesticides, seeds and herbicides), lack of storage facilities at the farms and cost of storage, armyworm outbreaks, lack of access to markets specific to vegetables, wheat price competition with international markets, and wheat attacks by quelea birds, the repost says.



Opportunities

The report also says that Rundu's high and rapidly increasing population, as well as improving income levels, are increasing the inhabitants' buying power. The local economy is private-sector driven, and the rapid growth in local infrastructure developments indicates the future growth potential of the town's economy.

“Despite its growing agricultural farming base, access to financing especially for green schemes, remains a challenge to enhance the potential further,” says the report.

“Value addition in agricultural raw commodities is also low, hence there is potential to grow the local production capacity.”