Petronella Sibeene
30 May 2008
Windhoek — Prime Minister Nahas Angula says the Government might not be able to implement all capital projects this year due to a time factor.
Angula this week instructed key Government ministries to submit their capital projects implementation schedules to the Office of the Prime Minister.
The schedules are to be submitted to the Office of the President as soon as President Hifikepunye Pohamba returns from Japan where he is currently attending the fourth Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD).
The President is also expected to sign the 2008/9 national budget into law, the Prime Minister said.
This year N$3.5 billion is earmarked for capital projects.
The amount comes from the unprecedented N$9.9 billion afforded for such projects over the next three years, in addition to capital projects funded by development partners.
"The challenge is how to implement the capital projects because N$3.5 billion is a lot of money and we have less than eight months before the year ends," the Premier said.
He added, "the urgency is that we should start implementing these projects in order to stimulate the country's economy by way of creating jobs and food production."
Unemployment in Namibia stands at 37 percent.
"The green scheme received a substantial amount and if properly implemented, we will be able to cushion the country's food supply," said the Prime Minister.
Government has so far implemented the green scheme irrigation projects at the Orange, Kunene, Kavango and Zambezi rivers, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry said.
The Hardap region also has an irrigation scheme.
These agricultural projects are aimed at enhancing the agronomic sector to ensure that Namibia becomes self-sufficient.
So far in the Kavango region, Governor John Thighuru is satisfied with progress achieved by the green scheme projects.
Last year only, the governor said at Uvhungu-vhungu farm, which the Government owns 50 percent, crop production increased from 5.5 tonnes to 9.5 tonnes per hectare, while meat production has increased from 4.4 tonnes to 7.3 tonnes.
Milk production has also increased from 200 litres to 800 litres per day.
"The farm also provides drinking water to the community of Uvhungu-vhungu, though the water is unsafe as it is drawn from the river without purification," he said.
Meanwhile, the Kalimbeza Rice Project is up and running after the trial period began with planting of rice seedlings.
The main challenge this year was the rising water levels in the Zambezi River that made it impossible to transplant seedlings, said the Deputy Director:
Agriculture Engineering, in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Tertius Basson.
In the Karas region, the Tandjieskoppe Green Scheme Project that operates on 720 hectares engages 260 farmers in Noordoewer. The farmers are to utilise two hectares of land each to grow dates, grapes and vegetables.
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