presentation by christof brock international investors’ conference “the challenge of growing...

Presentation by Christof Brock

International Investors’ Conference

“The challenge of growing local production and finding markets for local produce”

While Namibia, to the outside world, does not appear to be an ideal country for investment in the agronomic sector, this presentation seeks to demonstrate that, on careful consideration, there are ample opportunities to expand the agronomy in Namibia and to invest in this expansion.


Structure of Presentation: For Domestic Consumption:For Domestic Consumption:

Staple foodsStaple foods Horticulture Fresh ProduceHorticulture Fresh Produce Oil-Crops for EnergyOil-Crops for Energy Intruder Bush to EnergyIntruder Bush to Energy

For Export Niche MarketsFor Export Niche Markets Horticulture Fresh ProduceHorticulture Fresh Produce Indigenous Cosmetic and Medicinal Plants Indigenous Cosmetic and Medicinal Plants


For domestic consumptionFor domestic consumption

Currently approx. 50% self-sufficient Approx. 50% dry-land and 50% irrigation. Therefore, lots of room for further production. Namibia’s ‘Green Scheme’ up to 36,000 ha under irrigation. Modern ‘ Conservation Agriculture’ methods Bird damage constraint for pearl millet production.


Staple foods Staple foods

Mainly maize, wheat, pearl millet (mahangu)Mainly maize, wheat, pearl millet (mahangu)

Production

Marketing


• Measures ensure Namibian crops are bought before imports are allowed; guideline commodity.

• Institutional caterers to include a 50% proportion of pearl millet

• Integrated feed production/feedlots• Farmers’ Organisations in the ‘communal’ areas marketing

support.• Construction of silos, Strategic Reserves.

Horticulture fresh produceHorticulture fresh produce

Current officially marketed domestic consumption approx. N$220 million.

Estimated that 50% - 70% of that can feasibly be grown in Namibia

Future Green Scheme to play a major role. Lots of room for further production.


Production

“Namibian Market Share Promotion” has boosted import substitution from 7% to 30% over past 5 years.

Marketing Infrastructure is to be created.Need of more specialised holistic extension

services.


Marketing

At this stage only experimental plantings in Namibia.

Excellent risk (drought) diversification for dry-land maize (annual plant) farmers to also plant perennial trees (Jatropha).

But there is widespread interest amongst Namibian and foreign investors to get involved big-time.


Oil - crops for energyOil - crops for energye.g. Jatropha, sunflower for Bio-diesele.g. Jatropha, sunflower for Bio-diesel

Production

Production (contd.)

Plans to contract small-scale farmers in Kavango and Caprivi Regions to plant over 63,000 ha in the coming 5 yrs raising GDP by over 0,5%. Processing to be done in Namibia.

Importance of sensitively balancing food production with bio-fuel production

Bottlenecks currently: Appropriate Leases in communal areas Other potential dangers: frost (Jatropha) and bird damage

(sunflowers)


Marketing

Enough internal market for blending into Diesel and/or for electricity

Carbon creditsBottlenecks to marketing: a lot of internal

(Namibian) issues



Intruder Bush to E nergyIntruder Bush to E nergy

Huge tracts of communal and commercial area are bush encroached, carrying-capacity of livestock per ha. Combining it with the utilisation for energy is seen as the future.

Production

Marketing

In the form ofIn the form of Charcoal Quality firewood Electricity, by combustion or gasification Bio-oil by pyrolysis Extruded wood products


Marketing (contd.)

Various pilot plants for electricity from intruder bush are currently being built in Namibia.

C urrently a lot of charcoal is exported, needs better branding and quality control.

Other small-scale products and markets exist.


For high value niche marketsFor high value niche markets for export for export

Currently mainly table grapes to EU (N$560 mil in 2006 !!)

Also some dates, melons and butternutsPotential for many others


Horticulture Fresh ProduceHorticulture Fresh Produce

Production

MarketingMicro-climate catching a lucrative niche market.More markets such as US and China are being

opened. Danger: fluctuating exchange rateNeed a “High Value Crop Export Marketing

Information Service”. Effective Namibian branding and a GMO-free

and/or organic certification service would enhance niche marketing opportunities.


Indigenous cosmetic and Indigenous cosmetic and medicinal plantsmedicinal plants

Potential for immense expansion.Ground work in cultivating and in the past 5 yearsIndigenous, obviously well suited to growing in

Namibia, but it remains to be seen how they react to being cultivated in higher concentrations.

Welcome diversification for livestock farmers.


e.g. devil’s claw, Hoodia, marula oil, etc.e.g. devil’s claw, Hoodia, marula oil, etc.

Production

Marketing:

Marked considerable successDevelopment partners poised to assist Namibians.Effective Namibian branding and a GMO-free,

organic and fair-trade certification service would enhance niche marketing opportunities.



With this brief analysis, ladies and gentlemen, I trust that I have convinced you that there are lots of opportunities for investment in the Namibian agronomy and you are welcome to get more details from the Namibian Agronomic Board and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Conclusion:

presentation by christof brock international investors’ conference “the challenge of growing...

Documents

christof brockpresentation

christof brockat

christof brockmeasures

christof brockstaple

christof brockproduction

christof brock oil crops

christof brock intruder

pearl millet production