An introduction to the EBC horticulture project at DiHokohoko

Situated: Close to Biro, close to Divundu in the eastern Kavango region in Namibia

Contents

Introduction

Partner

What is the project about?

Why should this project be supported?

Introduction

Who is EBC Namibia?

EBC Namibia (EBCN) is the Evangelical Bible Church of Namibia with it's regional head office in Rundu, Namibia. The local Church Board Members are:

Pastor Saul Thomas - National Director, EBCN

Pastor Domingo Mweneputa

Pastor Lukas Mbumba

Pastor Lukas Kazanga

The local Pastor at DiHokoHoko is Pastor Anton Mberema

Ltr: Pst S Thomas, Pst A Mberema, Pst D Mweneputa, Pst L Mbumba 
and Pst L Kasanga

EBCN Registration No – 21/20130668

You can see more about EBCN on Facebook

EBCN board has a long standing relationship with their traditional leaders and church members in the DiHokoHoko area.

EBCN also has long relationship with Albie Oelofse who has started a pilot project at DiHokoHoko and who is submitting proposals for EBCN for DiHokoHoko for a Training Centre.

Partner

EBCN has partnered up with Albie Oelofse (AO) who has 4 years of experience in managing Peri-Urban Horticulture Projects in association with Albert Fosso who is a Horticulture Expert formerly from the FAO.

See more at www.nhtnamibia.com.

He has experience and exposure in the following areas:

He was a senior manager at a Financial Institute for 13 years

He was the founding member of the Namibia Horticulture Trust (NHT)

He is a trustee of NHT - Registration No TR305/11

Managing and submitting project proposals for the DiHokoHoko Project since

 2012

Managed the Hope Village Project since 1998 (see Hope Village)

Managing and submitting project proposals for the Kyaramacan Peoples

 Trust (KPT) Project since 1999

Managed projects for NLCC, the Samaritans in Okahandja and Rhenish in

 Rehoboth since 2000.

What is this project about?

EBCN would like to start a project at DiHokoHoko in the Kavango East Region through which a Peri-Urban Horticulture Training Centre will be established and maintained. This project is planned to be implemented in 2 phases:

1. A pilot project of 1 year during which Trainers of Gardeners (TOGs) will be trained and initiated using 20 Veggie Tunnels.

2. The main project of 2 years during which the TOGs will assist in training selected people from the area to become gardeners to benefit local communities and to become commercial farmers.

Where is DiHokoHoko?

Please hover your cursor while pressing Ctrl and click on the link below:

http://goo.gl/maps/oF8UO

What does EBCN need?

EBCN needs funding for the pilot project that will establish and train 5 selected TOGs at DiHokoHoko. This funding will empower the trainers to grow into the new horticulture training culture for about 12 months, to be ready for the main project. This pilot project will highlight a lot, if not most shortcomings regarding cultural issues, communication issues, traditional issues that is normally ignored and which may cause a lot of problems.

The pilot project should have 20 Veggie Tunnels only, to start an intensive training program for the TOGs and to use the time for quality training. The one big benefit is that the EBCN board has approved the project and that 3 of the 5 TOGs live on or close to the premises. This premises has water which is pumped from the Okavango River by electrical pumps into tanks, accommodation in the form of brick and mortar houses and an electrical power feed.

Community interaction

AO in association with EBCN had various meetings with the local communities of the DiHokoHoko area explained what is envisioned and how he local people will benefit from this project. Meetings were held with the Fumu (Chief Headman), the area headman and the local headman. All of these leaders welcomed the project as was explained to them.

Interaction for Divundu projects:

Cost Projections

Pilot Project - 10 Tunnels

Capital expenses		c	172 561	73%
Maintenance 1st year		m	18 100	8%
Labor 1st year		l	5 143	2%
Office expenses 1st year		o	-	0%
Salaries 1st year		s	-	0%
Training 1st year		tr	-	0%
Transport 1st year		t	18 278	8%
1st Year reserve		r	22 394	9%
			NAD    236 476	100%

Please see the detailed budgetary figures attached.

Why should this project be supported?

* This project will alleviate poverty and the lack of income in the area close to where it is implemented.
* The local people has ample access to water and owns the land around the DiHokoHoko Project; all they need is proper training in skills.
* EBCN is aware of this need and wants to address this need through its existing infrastructure and assistance in partnership.
* EBCN in partnership with Albie Oelofse have started pilot projects to break new ground and to start training the future TOGs already.
* Pastor Mberema has started to market and sell his produce on a small scale already.

The above proves that the DiHokoHoko community in association with EBCN is willing and ready to take on the new challenges for the new Horticulture Training Project at the EBCN facility.