A small-scale farmer from Muroro village has suffered a loss of approximately N$40,000 in potential revenue due to a failure of her irrigation pump, which devastated her cabbage and tomato crops.

Elizabeth Mpareke is the owner of Livhu Irrigation Farm in the Kavango East Region. Her crops wilted due to a technical fault in her irrigation system.

She was hoping for a bumper harvest that would bring in income to improve operations on the farm.

Mpareke said her team noticed the decline in the pump’s pressure only after it was too late.

Mpareke is now unable to sell her produce, as it is not suitable for the market.

She resorted to calling on residents from Muroro and surrounding villages to come and collect the produce for free.

Some people who came to collect the vegetables said they would feed their families, while others said they would use the produce to exchange for millet and other household necessities.

Despite the loss, Mpareke has decided to move on.

Her team has since transplanted 9,000 heads of cabbage and about 200 green pepper plants after her water supply was restored.