A G R O - M A R K E T I N G
&
T R A D E
A G E N C Y
( A M T A )
N A M I B I A
AMTA officials receiving training on grape grading which is one of the most important procedures to be followed in post-harvest handling as it determines the quality, shelf life and price of the fruits The Kalimbeza Rice Project in Katima Mulilo is just one of the small-scale businesses benefitting from AMTA’s horticultural connections
well as provide a commonplace where local retailers can source their produce for distribution in the domestic and international markets. Furthermore, they will also potentially contribute to skills development and skills transfer to Namibians who will be employed in processing and value addition facilities,” AMTA adds. The Windhoek Hub will have a laboratory that is able to carry out physical, biological and chemical tests and other agronomy requirements that have been inaccessible by small-scale farmers in Namibia prior to AMTA’s influence. “FPBHs will create opportunity through industrial activities such as sorting, cleaning, grading, juicing, packing, branding, drying, bottling and canning specifically,” the organisation explains. It is common knowledge that the absence of these facilities has resulted in a substantial tonnage of Namibian
46
fresh produce being marketed through third parties or countries. AMTA further highlights: “As a result, Namibian consumers suffer the most, as they have to pay the transportation and foreign handling charges, which are passed onto them.” The development of the FPBHs is designed to mitigate such costs, while improving Namibia’s trade balance for
WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM
68,000MT AMTA is looking at ways to expand its capacities in order to provide a more reliable, sustainable supply of food for the country’s growing population
the commodities in question. Plans are in place to establish satellite offices to complement the initial Hub offering and save money for even more local businesses and consumers.
National strategic food reserve
At the other end of the spectrum, AMTA maintains Namibia’s national strategic food reserves to make sure the nation is generating, and even importing, enough food to feed its people. With current operations spread across Katima, Mulilo, Rundo, Okongo, Omuthiya and Tsandi, the organisation is looking at ways to expand its capacities in order to provide a more reliable, sustainable supply of food for the country’s growing population. “Our current capacity is 18,900MT, which we intend to increase drastically to reach the target of 68,000MT over the coming few years,” notes AMTA. With last year’s continuous dry spells