How blueberry farming started in the Kavango

When the Königstein Capital team first visited the Mashare Irrigation team operating on the government estate in Namibia’s far north, the farm was producing harvests of cash crops like maize, wheat and potatoes. Watered by the Okavango River, these fields of sustenance to the local market proved to be an opportunity for something even greater. What about a crop that could employ more people, use water more efficiently and contribute significantly to the Namibian economy? After extensive research into the environment of the Mashare farm, it was decided that blueberries would be the next big thing for Mashare Irrigation, now Mashare Agri Group, and Namibia at large.

While the first trial proved to be a major success, further development of any agricultural project requires a thorough thinking-through. For over a year, while the first batch of blueberries was slowly readying for their second harvest, the Mashare team carefully considered the lessons learned and areas of potential improvement, before putting the planting of another 40 hectares in motion. By the end of 2021, the farm comprised not only abundant wheat, maize and potato crops, but 60 fruitful hectares of export quality blueberries. This time around, with 85 permanent and 500 contract employees.

Mashare’s future is promising to be as prolific as their first three harvests, with a long-term goal of 600 hectares of blueberries set for the year 2030. Just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, Mashare’s ambitious expansion plan takes calculated steps. A project of this magnitude will see more Mashare village and surrounding community members benefiting from seasonal and potentially permanent employment, not to mention the capital investment directly back to the greater economic ecosystem of Namibia.

Charene Labuschagne