Windhoek — THE National Youth Council (NYC) and the University of Namibia (Unam) plan to initiate a mushroom farming project to alleviate unemployment among the youth.

The decision to venture into mushroom growing was made after Unam carried out extensive research on the possibility of mushroom farming in Namibia.

The first phase of the initiative will involve 65 youths who will be selected from different regions of the country.

The project is viewed as a way of assisting the Namibian youth with minimal capital and as a means of fighting unemployment, reducing poverty and diversifying the country's economy.

According to the NYC's outgoing Secretary General Juliet Kavetuna, some countries in SADC have successfully implemented mushroom farming, according to the research done by Unam.

"We have realised that if other countries can do it, why not Namibia.

The project does not require extensive land," Kavetuna said.

The first phase of the project will demonstrate to Namibian communities that mushrooms can be developed into cash crops without the need for expensive farmland and with a modest capital injection.

The project will start next month and the initial investment will come from a N$40 000 donation by AgriBank.

The donation will cover facilitators' fees, training facilities at Unam, training materials, transport, accommodation and meals.