An investigation of the Supply Chain challenges faced by small scale crop farmers at Etunda Irrigation Farm in Namibia

ABSTRACT

The investigation of the supply chain challenges faced by small scale

farmers at Etunda irrigation farm is the core of this study. The main rationale for

the investigation is the fact that Green Scheme projects, of which Etunda is one

of them, is one of the key economic development and diversification focus areas

highlighted in Namibia’s fourth national development plan (NDP_4).

The farming operations at Etunda are heavily dependent on logistical

services for production inputs and post-harvest and marketing activities. The

Government of the Republic of Namibia continues to make tremendous

investment in the Green Scheme’s production, logistics and marketing

infrastructure, yet, the small scale farmers are struggling to transform from

subsistence to fully commercial farming practices. This study found that the high

cost of inputs, lack of inputs, limited flow of inputs, lack of suitable storage

facilities and transportation services, lack of market access, lack of management

skills, and lack of training are the main supply chain challenges faced by small

scale farmers at Etunda irrigation farm.

The findings are of qualitative nature and thus not meant to provide the

quantifiable results which can be better attained by a qualitative study or else the

combination of both qualitative and quantitative studies. Nevertheless, the study

addresses the key research objective which is simply to identify the supply chain

challenges as observed and experienced by the stakeholders.

Furthermore, it emerged that, the effects of these challenges transcend down the

food chain and therefore should not be addressed in isolation because they are

of a supply chain nature. The case-study research method backed up by semi-structured

interviews were used to gather the empirical data in the Etunda supply chain