‘Green finger’ revolution

DR. A.C OBHOLZER WRITES:Most Namibians who stay in the far North have access to water (Zambezi, Chobe, Linyanti Kwando, Kavango Rivers) or canal water from Ruacana (Cunene) and the seasonal Efundja.They utilize this asset, to cultivate vegetable gardens. With sufficient space, mahangu, maize, cabbage and pumpkins are planted.In the Otavi Valley, Okahandja, the Swakop Valley and Rehoboth Garden flourish. The Hardap scheme is a huge success. The Neckartal Dam is waking up to its potential. Along the Orange huge commercial farms – grapes flourish.Food security is the basis for human development. It is step one in the Unicef road to social upliftment.The skills of the far north should be transferred to the urban areas. Each home should aim to have a small vegetable garden for fresh produce. Old tyres and compost (from municipal biodegradables) are affordable.Subsidized seeds can be provided by green authorities for tomatoes, carrots, peas/beans, spinach and if space allows: butternuts, pumpkins/cabbage, mahangu and maize.Water from washing can be used to water this small garden. Each home should have an orange tree. Each school with sleep-in (koshuis) pupils, should have a vegetable garden and orange trees to supplement their diet. This will initiate a culture of self-sufficiency (self-help) and discipline.People with capacity and initiative can sell their vegetables to supplement their income.If you have the opportunity, use your initiative to help yourself with a small vegetable garden.In addition, if you have space, keep a few hens for eggs (the single best-balanced source of nutrition).The Meatma products (soup bones, organs, tripe (matangara) and lard etc.) of Meatco can contribute to healthy potjiekos.Sugar abuse is dangerous to your health – it is an addictive appetite stimulant, resulting in obesity, hypertension and diabetes. It should be damage and VAT taxed with a warning, like tobacco and alcohol. See SA Health Promotion Tax/Levy.With this tax (bad and ugly) good essential foods can be VAT exempted, by cross subsidy with no cost to fiscus. Exempt – milk, eggs, brown bread, mineral and vitamin enriched maize meal (apples – Vit C, carrots – Vit A) and VAT exempt pilchards with tomato sauce to correct the fishrot trust mistake, as well as pads for school girls, and condoms for men. These measures are affordable and simple, to promote health and prevent disease. Don’t think of the next sugar promise election, but the next generation (18 years) of healthy independent voters. Where there is a light and a will, there is a way.* Rubrieke, meningstukke, briewe en SMS’e deur lesers en meningvormers weerspieël nie noodwendig die siening van Republikein of Namibia Media Holdings (NMH) nie. As mediahuis onderskryf NMH die etiese kode vir Namibiese media, soos toegepas deur die Media-ombudsman.

‘Green finger’ revolution

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Republikein 2025-09-16

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‘Green finger’ revolution

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Republikein 2025-09-16

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