Agribank recently partnered with other stakeholders through the Watyako Foundation, to hand over a donation valued at N$125 000 to the Siya Community Horticulture project.

The sponsorship is meant to assist in reviving the community garden in the impoverished Kapako Constituency of Kavango-West region, and will benefit women, youth, and persons with physical disabilities in the community.

The Bank sponsored N$20 000 towards this partnership, while other partners contributed N$55 000 worth of equipment and materials which were handed over to the project, as well as N$70 000 worth of training offered by the Rundu Vocational Training Centre.

The training will cover all aspects of horticulture, monitoring, and project evaluation and implementation.

Speaking at the sponsorship handing over ceremony, Agribank’s Manager for Marketing and Communication Mr Rino Muranda accentuated the Bank’s commitment in transforming the agricultural sector, through its affordable and sustainable innovative financial solutions.

“Hence the Bank designed schemes such as Women and Youth Loan Scheme that further the objectives of financial inclusion in the agricultural sector, since agriculture is the backbone of Namibia’s economy and source of sustenance for many livelihoods in the country,” said Muranda.

On her part, the Founder and Chairlady for the Watyako Foundation Ms Salmi Mvula said that the Siya Community horticulture project and its needs were identified through the Directorate of Rural Services in the region.

“This prompted the foundation to reach out to potential partners and collaborators such as Agribank to come on board and support this noble food security initiative that seeks to alleviate poverty and hunger as well as to address unemployment among women, youth and people living with disability in the Siya village,” she said.

Mvula appreciated all the sponsors for believing in the wishes and aspirations of their foundation.

“I therefore would like to call upon private sector, NGOs, Civil society, and individuals to continue investing in sustainable developmental projects such as this, in our needy communities of our society,” she said. 

In the photo: The Siya community members listening to speakers at the meeting where the hand-over of the donations took place.