Top recognition for unam rice project

Poverty and hunger will not be eradicated if the country does not combine efforts to fight and overcome them for future generations.

“We can only eradicate hunger and poverty by engaging ourselves as communities and individuals in meaningful projects that improve the lives of the Namibian people,” said President Hifikepunye Pohamba.

Speaking at the official inauguration of the Kalimbeza rice project here, President Pohamba said he had no doubt that the project would yield both crops and practical and scientific knowledge in rice production.

“This will assist our country greatly in producing more food for our people. These efforts are also complementing our objectives of meeting the food security needs of our country in line with Vision 2030,” he said. Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor of the University of Namibia Professor Lazarus Hangula, says Government can now seriously consider rolling out the Kalimbeza Rice Project from the current 26 hectares that are cultivated to 193 hectares for which provision for irrigation is to some extent already provided.

He said in view of the forecast that the weather pattern of an El Nino may be coming, “We think that Namibia should seriously consider the possibility of using the waters of the Zambezi and Kwando Linyanti rivers for irrigated rice production. Since the Ohangwena and Omusati regions are lining up for rice transplanting, I think it is doable,” he said.

For all this to happen Hangula said, Government will only need to do a few things like creating a budget, procuring and repairing a set of basic equipment, which is an absolute necessity if the project has to proceed and succeed.

UNAM cannot be directly involved in commercial production per se, but will stand by Government and farmers by assisting with various expertise.

“To that effect, UNAM has decided to make Kalimbeza Rice Project the centre of excellence for skills and technology transfer in the country. Our partnership with leading universities in rice expertise such as Nagoya in Japan and Gadja Mada in the Republic of Indonesia, will equip us with the necessary skills and competencies,” Hangula informed the guests.

He said UNAM’s partnership with Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry in this project has shown that together they can do more in accelerating the development of the country.

He informed President Hifikepunye Pohamba, that UNAM in accordance with its motto “Education, Service, Development”, is ever ready to assist Government in the green scheme and in many other sectors whose activities match its academic set up.

He appealed to Government to ensure that the proudly Namibian Kalimbeza Rice soon finds its way into Namibian shops and supermarkets.