Outapi Agriculture city Project on
potion A of the reminder of the farm
Outapi 1116
INTRODUCTION
• Omusati region administrative centre
• Fast growing due to rural-urban and urbanurban migration
• Region is third most populated in the country
• Same challenges as other towns all over the
world
• Concept of urban agriculture was
incorporated in the town planning scheme in
2006
OBJECTIVES
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Development of an urban agriculture model whereby a settlement comprising of agricultural and residential units is established where individual
units sell off their harvest to the farming co-operative for value adding and processing in an industrial plant located in Outapi Industrial Area.
The concept is based on supervised, subdivided small-holdings to be farmed by leasehold and owned by the co-operative.
The financial gains made from selling the processed goods are then shared amongst the members of the co-operative.
The Agriculture City will create a number of job opportunities for local residents and improve the standard of living.
The project will enable families to become self-sustainable and pave the way for sustainable development of scares commodities such as land.
Alleviating poverty in the Outapi Constituency Area as well as in the Omusati Region as a whole.
Providing for a clear separator between the Agriculture units and the residential component to be provided for in the proposed Agriculture City.
Agricultural plots will belong to the Outapi Town Council and will be leased out on a performance basis to community members.
Environmental stewardship is enhanced through Urban Agriculture’s efforts to green cities.
Urban agriculture can be an effective ground for the development of small businesses.
Economic development and community revitalization are achieved when neighborhoods take pride in a community garden, when inner-city residents
gain the ability to grow and market their own food.
Residents can benefit from cleaner air and the quality and quantity of fresh produce.
OUTPUTS
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The Town of Outapi can benefit from the proposed Agriculture City development
by means of providing job opportunities to the local workforce as agriculture
production is a primary creator of work.
The Outapi Town Council can benefit from the rates and taxes to be gained from
the leasing of the plots and the selling of the residential plots. These much needed
funds can be used for future development in the Town of Outapi.
Positive spin-off affects by diversifying Outapi’s tax base and stimulating related
industries for example the planned food processing plant.
Add value to the farm produce and convert comparative advantages into
competitiveness.
Improve the quality of life for all the members of the community involved in the
project as well as their immediate family members involved with the farming
activities on the agricultural plots.
LOCATION
• Portion A of the Remainder of the Farm Outapi
Nr.1116 is located to the east of the Town of
Outapi. The site is situated in-between two
Oshanas with land suitable for agriculture on the
higher ground. The main water canal supplying
North-Central Namibia runs between the
proposed development and the Town of Outapi.
The Outapi Oxidation Pond is located to the west
of the proposed urban agriculture model. The
M123 Tsandi-Outapi Main Road borders on the
development to the south.
POPULATION
• The Outapi constituency has total population of
+/-50 000. The total labour force (people older
than fifteen years) was approximately 15 400
members strong of which 36% is unemployed. Of
the Outapi constituency 50% of households
derive their main source of income from farming.
The Outapi has a population of 8 000 people
reside within Outapi Town of which
approximately 70 persons are directly active in
the agriculture, hunting or forestry industries.
LAND USE
• The Remainder of the Farm Outapi Nr. 1116 is currently
zoned for “Undetermined” purposes according to the
Outapi Town Planning Scheme of 2005 and measures
2304.2043ha in extent. Ownership of the Remainder of
the Farm Outapi Nr. 1116 is vested in the Town Council
of Outapi, awaiting final registration with government.
• The small-scale farmers settled and farming on the
area to be formalised (Portion A of the Remainder of
the Farm Outapi Nr.1116) under the scheme have
already been informed by the Town Council of the
proposed development of an Agriculture City on
Portion A. The existing homesteads will be formalised
and incorporated into the design layout of the area.
TOPOGRAPHY
• The area is generally flat with contours
indicating a slope of less than 1:100m. The
oshonas is situated in the lower lying terrain
to the north and the south of the proposed
urban agricultural model.
VEGETATION
• Oshanas and Cuvelai lowlands are covered by a variety of
grass species. The characteristic vegetation of Outapi is
Cuvelai palms and fruit trees, such as marula and baobab
trees, on loamy soils. Some larger trees are within the study
area and should be preserved where possible. The Oshanas
comprise of a wetlands and grassland mosaic along main
channels of the Cuvelai. Mopani grow on the edges of the
Oshana and the drier margins are mostly perennial grass.
Several sedges grow in the wetter seasonal habitats and
dense mat of grasses are found in open water habitats,
with floating plants on deeper Oshanas. Outapi have
relatively low plant diversity in relation to the rest of Northcentral Namibia, although maximum plant growth falls
within the medium category for summer period. 1
CLIMATE
• Oshanas and Cuvelai lowlands are covered by a variety of
grass species. The characteristic vegetation of Outapi is
Cuvelai palms and fruit trees, such as marula and baobab
trees, on loamy soils. Some larger trees are within the study
area and should be preserved where possible. The Oshanas
comprise of a wetlands and grassland mosaic along main
channels of the Cuvelai. Mopani grow on the edges of the
Oshana and the drier margins are mostly perennial grass.
Several sedges grow in the wetter seasonal habitats and
dense mat of grasses are found in open water habitats,
with floating plants on deeper Oshanas. Outapi have
relatively low plant diversity in relation to the rest of Northcentral Namibia, although maximum plant growth falls
within the medium category for summer period. 1
FINDINGS
• The most important findings derived from the report:
• As production for gain is of utmost importance a cost-benefit
analysis for the agricultural development is necessary to define
most economical use of the scarce water resource.
• The farmers must focus on food security through self-sufficiency.
• Recognising the importance and interdependence between
agriculture, water management and biodiversity conservation for
protection against land degradation, pollution, salination of soils
and depletion of water sources.
• The Outapi Farming Co-operative must diversify its economic base
to establish itself commercially and to become competitive.
• The proposed development can benefit the Outapi Council in a
number of ways. It will create employment opportunities and
diversify Outapi’s tax base. The development will also contribute to
local economic development.
RECOMMENDATIONS
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The following is recommended for successful implementation of the project:
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Approval is given by the Outapi Town Council for the Agriculture City project to be implemented and government support is to be secured
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Identification of a partner/private investor with the farmers and Town Council in the Outapi Farming Co-operative, necessary for funding the initial
development costs and for operating the small food processing plant.
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For implementation of the project governmental approval of the layout and the proposed development first needs to be attained. This involves
application for the Needs and Desirability of the proposed development from the Namibian Planning Advisory Board (NAMPAB) and afterwards,
formal approval is to be obtained from Townships Board.
The farming co-operative must be registered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development. Establishment of an Outapi Farming Cooperative further involves drawing up a Constitution and Memorandum of Agreement between the members, and permission must be given by the
Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Rural Development for the Outapi Town Council to become part this type of joint venture.
Further study on the feasibility of groundwater irrigation, and a soils survey and sampling is necessary to determine the most productive and
economical use of the farmland and not to increase soil salinity.
The right to extract a fixed quota of water from Namwater’s canal needs to be secured. (After consultation with Namwater it was concluded that
water from the canal can only be extracted in the absolute minimal quantities so as to negate any negative downstream effects of a shortage in
water supply to the rest of north-central Namibia. This requires a feasibility study to calculate the exact amount of water usage and the minimal
quantity needed for crop production in the hydroponics units.)
Funding for the Urban Agriculture Project is to be secured with the assistance of UNHabitat. A copy of the project has been handed to the
organization to give their professional inputs into the project as a whole.
CUVEWATER PROJECT
• CONSTRUCTED WITH THE ASSISTED OF THE
CUVEWATER PROJECTS.
• RETREAT PLANT THAT IS CONNECTED TO
INDIVIDUAL HOUSES, PUBLIC TOILETS AND
SHOWERS
• WATER IS RETREATED BEFORE BEING USED
AGAIN IN THE COMMUINTY GARDEN.
• LOCATED AT INFORMAL SETTLEMENT FOR BE
ACCESSIBLE TO THE POOR.
PUBLIC SHOWERS AND TIOLETS
RETREATMENT PLANT
COMMUNITY GARDEN