Namibia harvests its first locally grown bananas as Etunda project targets import reduction
Bananas were planted in January 2025 and are part of efforts to reduce reliance on costly fruit imports.
NAMIBIA – Namibia has harvested its first locally grown bananas through the Etunda banana trial project in the Omusati region, marking a milestone in domestic agriculture as the nation seeks to reduce annual imports exceeding 7,000 tons.
To begin with, the first harvest totalled 2.5 tonnes and is now available through retail outlets in Windhoek. The project was developed by the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) and the agricultural solutions company AvaGro.
Bananas were planted in January 2025 and are part of efforts to reduce reliance on costly fruit imports. Namibia currently imports bananas worth approximately N$70 million (approx. US$3.9 million) per year, mainly from South Africa, making bananas the second most-consumed fruit after apples.
Therefore, in 2023, NAB and AvaGro entered into an agreement to support research and development for the domestic banana industry. The programme included seedling production through tissue culture and field trials in production areas with suitable climate and soil conditions, before progressing towards commercial production.
Following the initial harvest, the partners are expanding plantings at Etunda and at additional sites in Singalamwe, Divundu, and Oshivelo to evaluate the feasibility of larger-scale commercial banana production.
While small-scale banana cultivation has taken place for years in various zones, production has largely been for on-farm consumption and has not supplied the domestic market in substantial volumes. This formal expansion seeks to transform the domestic market and bolster food security through agricultural innovation.
NAB Chief Executive Officer Fidelis Mwazi said: “The ultimate target from these trials is that once we are satisfied with the outcome, we would like to upscale this initiative into production and move into the commercial aspect, where farmers can come on board and participate in banana production.“
Climate conditions remain a challenge for banana production, as temperature fluctuations can affect yields and crop survival. Disease pressure is also cited as a production risk in banana-growing regions.
However, by utilizing tissue-culture seedlings and testing across various geographical zones, researchers are assessing whether large-scale commercial farming is viable in the local climate.
Success in these initial trials would enable local farmers to transition to a new industry, reducing Namibia’s import bill and creating rural employment.
Finally, Namibia’s long-term vision is to build a competitive domestic banana industry that supplies local retailers and reduces dependence on neighbouring countries.
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