Transcript Outapi Agricultural City - The World Future Council
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 urban urban 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
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 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
• • • • • • • • • 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 North central Namibia, although maximum plant growth falls within the medium category for summer period.
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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 North central Namibia, although maximum plant growth falls within the medium category for summer period.
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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
• • • • • • • • • • • • • The following is recommended for successful implementation of the project: Approval is given by the Outapi Town Council for the Agriculture City project to be implemented and government support is to be secured 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.
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 Co operative 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.