Green schemes not deliveringThe Namibian leader says there is a need to improve food security through government''s green schemes. Geingob calls for improved food security 0 President Hage Geingob declared Monday that not enough food was being produced or jobs created despite Government''s huge financing of the Green Scheme projects.He raised the concern during the opening of the Swapo party second national policy conference under the theme ''towards economic inclusivity and prosperity''.
“Let me refer to the paper on food security in Namibia. My key observation from the paper is that Government has put a lot of money into the Green Scheme. However, the results presented in the paper suggest huge leakages both in terms of production as well as job creation,” Geingob said.
He said even during harvest time, Government green schemes do not employ a lot of people.
He said Swapo should first interrogate whether Namibia was really getting value for money from the Green Scheme and whether food security could be improved by involving the private sector through smart reforms, instead of letting Government shoulder the burden alone.
The Harambee Prosperity Plan suggests that the maize triangle be integrated into the Green Scheme concept although the scheme focuses on irrigated agriculture, while the maize triangle centres on rain-fed crop production.
Geingob suggested that farmers in the maize triangle and other areas with similar features be given incentives to plant more through smart interventions to mitigate some of the risks associated with rain fed crop production.
Meanwhile, the President said despite Namibia being endowed with natural resources, citizens had not benefitted much over the years.
Geingob confirmed that Government had entered into some contracts with operators that were currently exploiting some of its resources.
“Namibia is blessed with many natural resources. I would like to see a debate on how our natural resources should be exploited in a manner that will bring the most benefit to Namibia.
“It is true that we have entered into some contracts with operators that are currently exploiting some of our resources. However, we cannot be bound forever by contracts that are in favour of investors at the expense of the majority of Namibians,” he stressed.
The conference ends tomorrow.
NAMPA