The United Nations World Meals Programme (WFP), in collaboration with the Capricorn Basis and the College of Namibia (UNAM), just lately carried out a three-day transformative hands-on coaching on worth addition within the Hardap Area of Namibia.
The coaching introduced collectively 45 contributors, together with youth and ladies from farmsteads in Stampriet, Schlip, Bernafay, and Maltahöhe, who acquired new expertise in meals preservation and processing. The smallholder farmers transformed domestically grown meals equivalent to carrots, tomatoes, and beetroot into value-added merchandise equivalent to carrot juice, beetroot juice, pickled beetroot, vacuum-packed sliced carrots, and tomato paste.
“Rising meals for on a regular basis consumption is a necessity, however we have to look past the on a regular basis,” stated Tiwonge Machiwenyika, WFP Nation Director Officer in Cost (OIC). “Worth addition is important to make sure that the manufacturing of meals not solely permits consumption but additionally permits farmers to create sustainable livelihoods from the meals they produce.”
Themed “Selling Diet-Delicate and Sustainable Meals Processing by way of Worth Addition to Cut back Publish-Harvest Loss and Meals Waste,” the coaching aimed to boost farmers capability to extend and diversify their incomes whereas connecting them to market actors. Contributors acquired worth addition tools, equivalent to photo voltaic dryers and agricultural enter to spice up on-farm productiveness and the utilization of expertise in a sustainable method.
WFP and Capricorn Basis have partnered since 2022 on making certain meals and diet safety by way of decreasing meals waste and enhancing the dietary worth of meals.
“Meals loss and waste in addition to the insufficient entry to meals, leading to malnutrition, stays a terrific concern in Namibia,” stated Marlize Horn, Govt Officer of the Capricorn Basis. These are challenges that the Capricorn Basis goals to handle alongside like-minded organisations and as connectors of optimistic change, we’re happy with our partnership with the World Meals Programme.”
The coaching is an element of a bigger effort by WFP and UNAM, which has reached over 600 smallholder famers from Zambezi, Oshana, and Oshikoto areas in 2023 with worth addition and meals preservation coaching. Throughout this consumption, contributors had been capacitated by GS1 Namibia on meals security, market entry and product commercialization methods, together with branding, barcoding, and market analysis.
“On the College of Namibia, we’re deeply dedicated to empowering our communities with sensible expertise that foster meals safety, self-reliance and drive social progress,” stated Prof. Kenneth Matengu, Vice Chancellor at UNAM. “This coaching exemplifies the type of affect and worth we are able to supply our communities when tutorial data is paired with strategic partnerships.”
This multi-stakeholder collaborative effort represents WFP’s ongoing dedication to enhancing meals techniques worth chains in Namibia, contributing to improved lives, livelihoods, expertise growth, and nationwide meals safety.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Meals Programme (WFP).