The Naute Irrigation Scheme in the //Kharas region in Namibia has been without electricity for the past week, exposing date produce worth millions to the risk of rotting in the absence of cold storage.
The irrigation scheme produces grapes and dates for international and local markets. It is managed by the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (Nida), established under the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade. NamPower spokesperson Tangeni Kambangula yesterday said the company cannot share information about their clients with third parties. However, Nida spokesperson Wessel !Nanuseb confirmed the power cut due to accrued debt with NamPower over the last two years.
Nida has been facing financial and operational challenges across its business subsidiaries, including 148 industrial estates, tourism centres and small and medium enterprise (SME) business parks across the country. !Nanuseb highlighted high utility bills, high production input costs, strict export markets, low produce prices and limited resources to meet some of Nida’s farming obligations.
The Naute Irrigation Scheme was established in 1990 and the first dates planted in 1991 with the aim to develop a commercially sustainable project that would contribute towards the economic growth of the //Kharas region, while creating much needed employment for the community. Currently, the scheme only has an export market for grapes with Rainbow Exporters, a South African marketing company, for a consortium of fruits trading on international markets and none for the dates. The dates are currently only for the local market.
Source: Freshplaza
