[ad_1]
THE Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform is moving forward with its policy to woo private investors to establish green schemes in the country.
In a statement issued by executive director Nduyakupi Nghituwamata this month, the ministry and the Namibian Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) is inviting applicants through an open bidding process to lease three projects to establish green schemes under the build, operate and transfer model.
The NIPDB is mandated to promote and facilitate investment by foreign and Namibian investors in the country.
The three projects, which ministry official Felix Ndinamwene described as “virgin land needing to be developed”, are the Tandjieskoppe, Katima Mulilo farm Liselo, and zone irrigation projects.
“These are new projects and the winning bidders have to develop them on a build-operate-transfer agreement with the government. The business plan of the investor will dictate how long they would operate the project to recoup their investments,” he said.
Nghituwamata in the statement said bids must be delivered to the executive director on or before 17 October at 11h00.
“Bids will be opened in the presence of the applications’ representatives who choose to attend in person at the ministry’s offices at 11h05 on 17 October,” he said.
Minister of agriculture, water and land reform Calle Schlettwein has accompanied president Hage Geingob to many international forums, including the Expo 2020 Dubai and the Davos summit in Switzerland, in a bid to bring investors to the Namibian agriculture sector, in particular to green schemes, which would ensure the country’s food security and would cut down on imports.
According to a Simonis Storm Securities analysis of Namibian Agronomic Board data, shortages in various horticulture/crop products are predicted for the remainder of the year in the face of limited production in the country.
“This implies local supply will be largely insufficient, increasing the import requirement for basic foods.
“While global food prices are showing signs of moderation, local shortages are likely to keep local food prices elevated as it takes time for lower global prices to filter through,” Simonis said.
Last month, the minister told regional leaders in the Kavango West region the government will not allow regional councils to run green schemes as it was reverting to the original model.
Email: [email protected]
[ad_2]
Source link