Lylie Joel 

SIKONDO – Halapembe Investments CC on Friday recorded its first potato harvest at the Sikondo Green Scheme in Kavango West region.

The harvest marks a milestone for the small-scale farming enterprise, which is supported under the Namibia Agronomic Board’s (NAB) Potato Value Chain Development Scheme (PVDS).

The potatoes were planted in March, with a significant portion of the crop ready for harvesting by this month.
In an interview with Nampa, Halapembe’s manager Joseph Mbarekera said the project began in 2024 with maize production and initially employed 24 casual workers.

“Now I am the only permanent employee, together with 10 casual workers,” he said.
Mbarekera explained that the enterprise initially focused on maize production before shifting to potato cultivation on two hectares this year.

“In previous years, we harvested maize and aimed to distribute or sell it to the community,” he said.

“However, finding a market was a challenge. Some of the crop was destroyed by rain and we could not sell everything due to market constraints,” he added.

He said heavy rainfall had also affected the potato harvest, while a lack of machinery had forced workers to harvest the crop manually.
“We are lacking equipment.

We tried to source a harvesting machine, but it was not functioning properly, so we decided to harvest by hand,” he said.
Mbarekera added that the potato crop is vulnerable to damage from both locust infestations and manual harvesting methods.

“We are using our hands and forks to harvest these potatoes – and in the process, some of them are being damaged,” he said.
He appealed to the government for support in acquiring appropriate harvesting equipment.
“We are pleading and asking the government to assist us so that we can obtain proper equipment,” he said.

Mbarekera said packaging and labour costs also place pressure on the business, noting that potato bags cost approximately N$7 each and that thousands are required. 

Rising electricity and water costs have further increased production expenses.

Despite these challenges, he said the project continues to provide an income for himself and the casual workers.
The enterprise is one of 40 successful beneficiaries of the PVDS.

NAB horticulture development officer Thomas Sikoka said the scheme aims to boost local potato production by providing subsidised production inputs and technical support to small-scale growers.

He said the NAB assists farmers with the procurement of fertilisers, agrochemicals and seed tubers, with support provided over two production cycles.

Sikoka added that 101 farmers applied for the scheme in February, with 40 successful applicants planting potatoes on approximately 41 hectares nationwide. -Nampa