The Namibian government has extended the proposal submission deadline for three green schemes by two more weeks to give investors more time to bid.
Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Spokesperson Jona Musheko said the deadline to submit proposals for the Uvungu-vungu Green Scheme Irrigation Project, Ndonga Linena Green Scheme Irrigation Project, and Orange River Irrigation Project–which is closing this week–has been extended by at least two weeks in a move “to give more time for submissions.”
The proposed government model, where it is seeking both domestic and international investors to partner on a Built, Operate-and-Transfer model, allows it to benefit by receiving the farm with all the infrastructure and development, while the investor walks away with profit when the lease contract lapses.
Most Green Schemes which flourished in the past are now lying dormant without any tangible results, while those in operation are operating below desired levels.
Agriculture Minister Calle Schlettwein in November last year revealed that the government was exploring public-private partnerships for the development and operation of Green Schemes especially the commercial components thereof including through venture-capital funding and other funding avenues that may be available.
The leasing of green projects comes at a time when incessant challenges at the Agricultural Business Development Agency (AgriBusDev) has seen Cabinet approving the cancellation of the memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture and the government-owned entity established in 2011 to monitor and create an ideal environment for achieving the objectives of the green schemes, as defined by the Green Scheme Policy of 2008.
This year, the ministry has budgeted N$9 million to support Green Schemes Projects’ reform activity, among other obligations.
