Vegetable farming at steps in Namibia

At our project location Okakarara, there is in the neighbouring village of Ongombombonde since 2014 a vegetable cultivation area of over 1,000 sq m. Mostly under shade nets, but also out in the open, all sorts of things grow here: carrots, cabbage, beetroot and spinach. There are also peppers and chilli, melons and onions. But chilli in particular grows well here.

Meanwhile, the salaries of the staff in the vegetable garden are now financed through the sale of the vegetables – unlike at the start of the project.
The vegetables that are not sold are used by steps’ own soup kitchen in Okakarara to prepare fresh meals for the children and young people.
For steps, even after paying out the salaries, there is still a reserve to finance new seedlings, seeds, fertiliser and gardening materials.
The surplus from the harvest is sold to guest farms and the surrounding population.

Since 2019 trees have been grown in a new greenhouse, which are to be sold later. Organic cultivation is also planned.

Chilli grows well in Namibia – says chilli fan Hendrik

Some employees come from villages far away to Ongombombonde, which is why additional living quarters are needed. We now want to build these with the materials from the previous sewing room.