As in a number of countries
in southern Africa, white maize remains one of the most important sources
of staple food in Namibia. White maize and mahangu are the largest
commercial grain crops produced in this country.
Irrigation schemes largely contribute to the domestic white maize production.
These schemes are the Hardap Irrigation Project (near Mariental), the
Naute Project (near Keetmanshoop), Etunda in the NCRs, Katima Farm
(near Katima Mulilo) the flood plains in the Caprivi, and irrigation
schemes in the Kavango i.e. Musese, Shitemo, Shadi Irrigation Project,
Vungu Vungu, Sarasungu Farm and Mashare. Increasing volumes of white
maize under irrigation is also produced in the Stampriet, Tsumeb, Grootfontein,
Kombat and Otavi areas and near the Oranje River in the far south.
Many irrigation producers plant in cycles. Maize planted in August/
September will be harvested February/March the following year. Maize
planted in December/January will be harvested in June/July of the following
year.
Dry-land white maize is mainly produced in the maize triangle situated
between Tsumeb, Otavi and Grootfontein, in the Summerdown and in the
Omaheke areas, as well as in the Caprivi Region.
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Since communal producers
are not registered with the Agronomic Board, it is difficult to accurately
determine the communal hectares planted by small-scale producers in
the Caprivi and the Kavango regions.
White maize is normally planted in December (sometimes until January
and February the following year, pending the specific raining season).
The marketing season commences on 1 May and ends on 31 August of the
same year or, after the domestic production has been bought and milled.
During the white maize marketing period i.e. 1 May until the domestic
harvest is milled, the Namibian borders are closed for the importation
of white maize in order to prevent that domestically produced maize
has to compete with maize produced externally.
During the 2006 production season, 3,643 hectares were
planted under irrigation and 9,557 hectares were planted
under dry-land conditions. A total volume of 47,151 tons
of white maize were marketed.
The following agreement with regard to the 2007 white maize price is
submitted to the Management Committees of the Grain Processors’ Association
and the Agronomy Producers’ Association for agreement:
View details
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