Shadikongoro Green Scheme needs N$48m to expand operations

The Shadikongoro Green Scheme Irrigation Project requires an estimated N$48 million investment in new machinery and infrastructure to expand its operations, according to a report by Parliament’s standing committee on natural resources.

The committee said the funding is needed to extend irrigation to an additional 183 hectares, which would increase the project’s total irrigated area from 390 hectares to 573 hectares.

Of the planned expansion, 102 hectares will be developed for orchards, including mango, avocado and citrus, while 81 hectares will be placed under centre pivot irrigation.

“This expansion will increase the irrigated area from 390 hectares to 573 hectares. Preliminary designs and layouts have already been completed. However, to support expansion and improve efficiency, the project requires new machinery and infrastructure valued at N$48 million,” the committee said in its report.

The required equipment includes maize and wheat planters, fertiliser spreaders, tractors, an offset disc, a lime applicator, a combine harvester, and irrigation development for the additional 183 hectares.

The report noted that recent investments at the scheme include the purchase of a crop sprayer and a 132 kW tractor, repairs to existing tractors, replacement of centre pivots, and upgrades to pumps and motors. Since 2023, the ministry has been supplying production inputs to the project.

Further improvements planned for the 2025/2026 financial year include the construction of new security fencing, refurbishment of pump stations, installation of a new centre pivot, upgrades to grain storage facilities, and renovations to housing for small-scale farmers.

The committee said the scheme currently covers a total area of 585.5 hectares, of which 390 hectares are under irrigation. Of the irrigated land, 300 hectares are used for commercial farming, while 90 hectares are allocated to 14 small-scale farmers, evenly split between men and women.

The project employs 25 permanent workers and 10 contract employees, most of whom are drawn from surrounding communities.

Crop production at Shadikongoro has focused mainly on maize and wheat, with limited sunflower cultivation.

During the 2021/2022 winter season, 90 hectares of wheat produced 382 metric tonnes. In the 2022/2023 summer season, 285 hectares of maize yielded 1,611 metric tonnes, while the 2023/2024 season recorded 1,393 metric tonnes from 245 hectares, along with 20 tonnes of sunflower.

Maize and sunflower crops are currently being harvested for the 2024/2025 season, while 130 hectares of wheat have been planted for the 2025 winter season.

The scheme also operates an oil pressing plant for sunflower processing and small-scale milling equipment for maize and wheat sold locally.

However, production has been inconsistent, and a larger wheat milling plant installed during the 2015/2016 period has never been commissioned.

According to the report, a lack of critical machinery, particularly a combine harvester, has forced the scheme to rely on equipment borrowed from neighbouring green schemes, often resulting in delays to harvesting and planting operations.

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