ONGWEDIVA- The Olushandje Horticulture Producers Association is creating new opportunities for small-scale farmers by supplying fresh produce to schools and hospitals while contributing to food security and employment creation in the Omusati Region. According to association chairperson Shetuuka Shetuuka, the association has about 100 farmers, of whom 60 are actively producing throughout the year. Shetuuka... The post Olushandje farmers expand markets, boost food security appeared first on New Er
ONGWEDIVA- The Olushandje Horticulture Producers Association is creating new opportunities for small-scale farmers by supplying fresh produce to schools and hospitals while contributing to food security and employment creation in the Omusati Region.
According to association chairperson Shetuuka Shetuuka, the association has about 100 farmers, of whom 60 are actively producing throughout the year.
Shetuuka said that the association currently supplies vegetables and other fresh produce to hospitals and schools in the region, while also operating a catering business serving hostel schools. Although the association’s catering facility is not yet large enough to accommodate the produce of all its farmers, Shetuuka said that supplying institutions has created an important opportunity for farmers to better understand and influence the market.
“Once we supply produce to hostels and hospitals, it creates a good opportunity to control the market and demand, and even the price can be better than what we usually charge vendors at open markets,” he said.
He said that the association’s farmers are ready to increase production, but limited access to markets remains a major concern, particularly when farmers produce a surplus. “The main challenge is the market. Farmers are ready to produce as much as they can, but they are scared to produce surplus because they do not know where to take some of the produce,” Shetuuka said.
The association is therefore looking to expand its institutional market, including supplying correctional facilities in Omusati and neighbouring regions. Shetuuka also appealed for government support through subsidised agricultural inputs, saying that high fertiliser costs make it difficult for the farmers to compete with producers who receive subsidised packages of fertilisers, seeds and chemicals.
“We are not really complaining; we just want the market to be fair,” he said. Despite the challenges, Shetuuka said that the farmers are proud of their contribution to food security and employment creation, describing their work as a way of “meeting the government halfway”. The association also undertakes social responsibility initiatives by supporting people in need and schools.
Looking ahead, Shetuuka said that the association wants to venture into processing and has submitted a proposal at regional level for consideration. He said that establishing a processing facility would help the association manage surplus produce, create additional markets and improve farmers’ ability to control the market.
He further noted that delayed payments from some retailers remain a challenge, as farmers need immediate income to purchase seeds, fertilisers and chemicals for the next production cycle. As a result, some farmers prefer selling directly within their communities or to street vendors, where payment is immediate. Nevertheless, Shetuuka said that the association remains committed to expanding production, finding reliable markets and strengthening the role of local farmers in supplying nutritious food to communities and institutions.
The post Olushandje farmers expand markets, boost food security appeared first on New Era.
