Own Food Preservation and Canning as a Drought Strategy for Urban Poor - Namibia

This activity is canning food for the Namibian market and increasing food security. Farmers supply the necessary ingredients for the production and preservation of the canned food. Their participation is reducing land needed for cattle grazing and agriculture, whereby reducing environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions.

Fast facts:

More than 20,000 farmers can register for this initiative;
Annual production in 2015 reached 3,630,000 cans of food;
The overall annual targeted income for farmers participating in this activity is N 58,080,000 or USD 4,030,889.

The problem

In Namibia, livestock loss during a drought or flood is staggering. Some small livestock farmers can lose all of their cattle or their entire goat and sheep herds. When an animal dies from drought the carcass is usually found far away, not fit for human consumption and has the potential to pollute water.

The solution

This activity aims to reduce the number of cattle in each region, giving the farmer an opportunity to sell their livestock throughout the year and earn an income in the event a drought or flood affects their livelihood. The farmer will supply a certain number of cattle.
For one cattle slaughtered, 600 cans containing 400 grams of beef goulash consisting of potatoes, paprika, beef, tomatoes and onions, all of which are grown locally. The cans are then sold to the Namibian Defense Force, The Drought Aid Program, school lunch programs, shops and markets at a fixed non tax deductible price (one can for Namibian Dollar 16 or USD 1).

Helping the planet

Most farmers in Namibia are organic farmers by default, so the cattle and vegetables that qualify for canning will be free range and organic respectively.

Helping people

Farmers will benefit from training programs offered by this activity. The programs will teach them skill to improve their livelihoods. The farmers benefit from the direct sale of cattle. They earn a good price; and can become shareholders in the canning facility through the distribution of dividends annually. The cans produced by this activity will be consumed by the urban poor.

Scaling Up

Self-sustainability is the objective of this activity. By addressing social concerns and at the same making profits to sustain itself in the process, this activity is making profit for the farmers, caring for them and addressing their needs.