In his drive to ensure food security in the region, Oshana Governor Hofni Iipinge has taken to developing a ten-hectare plot at Okapopo Village in Okatyali Constituency.

Iipinge said after his appointment he did research and established that the region depends on food supplies from Oshikoto and Omusati regions.

The governor says, through this initiative, he hopes to change the current status quo, driving the region towards food security and self-reliance through community gardening.

The garden will boast onions, carrots, butternut, cabbage, spinach and sweetcorn and will be planted by the end of this month.

"This land has been standing here for 20 years unproductive, and I decided that with the power vested in me, I have to make sure that everything will change so that you know we really speak to the needs of our people because we are here to serve the people because we really need to walk the talk, not just to have priorities for the sake of having priority areas, but we have to fully implement them," remarked Iipinge.

He said land preparation has already been completed, and the garden will be fitted with irrigation systems.

"But we are also going to fight to make sure that I bring boreholes here that I initiated; it's just a matter of funds to make sure that they are put up here to supplement the rural water supply and a very big pivot and proper irrigation system so that we can produce our small crops. It's a pilot, and we cannot keep on being fed by other regions."

Products will be sold to the local markets.