Namibia: Organic Fertilizers Could Turn Desert Green

Source: allafrica.com
By Fifi Rhodes

OrganicPortal NewsRoom

Okahandja — The country's vast non-arable land could soon be turned into productive soil fit for planting all kinds of crops with the establishment of the first-ever Namibian organic enriched fertilizer plant.

The fertilizer plant was established in Okahandja late last year.

Johan le Riche, well-known agronomist and managing director of the newly formed Omatako Fertilizers, says soil fertility is drastically on the decline and that urgent attention is needed since this has a negative impact on food production.

He adds that organic fertilizers like carbon in the soil were in the past often overlooked when looking for land quality.

The multiple award-winning farmer says the application of his organic-enriched fertilizer, using chicken manure, and a mixture of calcium, magnesium, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium "provides water retention in the soil and promotes organic matter to have seven times more water content".

The organic materials also keep three times more nutrients than the ground.

"This is a totally new industry. We are manufacturers of organically-enriched fertilizers. Our fertilizers contain Namibian by-products such as local chicken manure and gypsum from the Erongo Region's Namib Desert.

"We hope the product will increase the yields of farmers especially in sandy soils and the Orange River basin.

"Apart from creating job opportunities, our product will definitely increase food production", he said.

Chicken droppings are collected by tipper trucks and taken to an open area where it is dumped. A tractor flattens the manure, which is then sun-dried for about eight weeks. In between, the manure is turned around to sterilize it before it is taken to the factory where it is enriched. Organic fertilizers makes the soil rich and ideal for planting.

They do not upset the balance in the soil, as they do not leave behind artificial compounds as in the case of using chemicals.

According to Le Riche, producers who use organic fertilizers, would experience increased production of between one and two tonnes per hectare, while in the longer term, they would use fewer chemicals.

Tip: OrganicPortal South Africa - Organic Agriculture

OrganicPortal NewsRoom

26.01.2012

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