ETUNDA FARMING IRRIGATION PROJECT
editEtunda Irrigation Scheme is located at Ruacana, more or less 57 km west of Outapi, in the Omusati region. The farm size is estimated to have occupied about 600 hectares of land, which is split in half for both commercial and small scale farming. Maize is the main crop on the commercial plot, various vegetables varieties such as wheat, cabbage, onion, melons, potatoes and bananas are grown seasonally throughout the year by small scale farmers. The farm employed a total of 126 workers of which 45 are males and 81 are females. The scheme has about 82 small scale farmers; each of the small scale farmers has a field of about 3 ha for irrigation. However, there are 6 small scale farmers who were given about 6 hectares. The six farmers were selected based on their level of production and because of the way they maintain and manage their crops. This serves as an encouragement to them and a motivation to other small scale farmers. They are considered as the best farmers who are accountable in terms of paying their accounts. Small scale farmers are growing maize, cabbage, tomatoes, onions, butter nuts, ground nuts sweet potatoes and water melons. The best small scale farmers are now growing wheat because of the additional hectares provided. Since most of the small scale farmers were not able to pay their accounts, they got a loan of about N$ 3 million from Agribank in January 2007. They are using a voucher system with a loan, each get about N$ 20 000 to N$ 100 000 depending on the programme. This loan is from MAWF and given to Agribank to manage it. Scheme service Providers The government is assisting service providers through the infrastructures that they are using, the center pivots, tractors, trucks and cars are all from the government. The service provider has 10 center pivots and each pivot cover a large area of about 30 ha. They are growing the same crops that small scale farmers are growing except Bananas and wheat. Scheme Marketing The service provider has the advantage of marketing their crops. They know where to sell both in and outside the country especially to South Africa. Small scale farmers on the other hand sell their products in Oshakati and around [Etunda]. They are provided with a truck to market their goods. The scheme is aimed to provide employment and food to the nation.