Butternut goes countrywide
The Capricorn Foundation has been actively involved in achieving food and nutrition security in Namibia and has now contributed N$100 000 to procure 10 tons of butternut from the Mariental Horticulture Pilot Project and transport it to 10 regions and 80 organisations.Government and the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS), in partnership with the United Nation’s World Food Program (WFP), IFARMS, and the Lithon Group, pioneered the pilot development of a horticultural production site in Mariental in 2022. This project has surpassed expectations and produced 43 tons of butternut and pumpkin to support healthy and nutritious diets and address rural transformation, food production, offender skill development, social cohesion, and environmental rehabilitation.
The NCS in Mariental received 10 tons of the butternut and pumpkin and the remainder (33 tons) was sent to Windhoek. The WFP sent 13 tons to communities in the Omaheke, Kunene and Oshikoto regions and approached the Capricorn Foundation to partner with them in making sure that the remainder of the butternuts and pumpkins in storage, reach vulnerable communities and do not go to waste.
The foundation, as part of its commitment to address food insecurity through the reduction of food waste, bought 10 tons of butternut valued at N$100 000. This week, the foundation distributed 2.7 tons of butternut to vulnerable orphans and communities experiencing food insecurity and malnutrition, identified by the foundation through the help of their CSR partner, Imago Dei.
The Lithon Foundation, another Capricorn Foundation partner and project partner of the WFP, coordinated the distribution of the rest of the butternuts (just over 7 tons) countrywide to //Kharas (Rosh Pinah, Noordoewer, Aussenkher, Keetmanshoop), Hardap (Mariental, Stampriet, Rehoboth, Hoachanas), Omaheke (Gobabis, Talismanus, Donkerhoek), Khomas (Windhoek), Erongo (Rooibank, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Henties Bay, Arandis), Otjozondjupa (Okahandja, Otjiwarongo, Otavi, Grootfontein, Osire), Kunene (Opuwo, Okanguati), Oshana (Ongwediva, Ondangwa), Oshikoto (Tsumeb), Kavango (Rundu).
The distribution and transport were assisted by Imago Dei, Gondwana (from Rosh Pinah to Opuwo), On Time Couriers (Gobabis), Hardap Couriers (Coast and North) and several individuals – all part of their contribution to the wellbeing of vulnerable people of Namibia.
In the past few months, the Capricorn Foundation has collaborated with the WFP and hosted a workshop to discuss strategies to transform food systems in Namibia. Recently the foundation also launched its annual Food Waste Challenge to address the issue of food waste in Namibia.