AvaGro Farm
Where the Namib desert blooms
Nestled amidst the dunes surrounding Swakopmund, AvaGro Farm spans 12 hectares, dedicated to cultivating high-quality vegetables. Since 2019, our produce has supplied local retailers and is now a sought-after export to neighbouring South Africa.
Horticulture
in the Namib Desert
Namibia is often considered an unfavourable location for horticultural production due to its arid climate, with an average rainfall of around 300mm.
While Namibia's Vision 2030 acknowledges the crucial part agriculture can play in the country's development, achieving this vision is not without its challenges. With only 30% of the country's arable land and only a third of the country's water deemed suitable for agricultural use due to its high salinity, Namibia faces considerable constraints to crop production.
AvaGro addresses these challenges by pioneering innovative solutions in our “laboratory”, the AvaGro farm, where we cultivate plants in greenhouses, under shade net covers, and on the open field. The successes attained in these harsh conditions uniquely position us to replicate our model in other regions impacted by climate change.
“If we can do it here,
we can do it anywhere.”
Technology
Our greenhouses are well-equipped with optimal growing media and drip irrigation systems for precise nutrient application. The hydroponic production process is centralised around a reverse osmosis plant, which is essential for desalinating the brackish borehole water utilised in the operations. Other pioneering technologies include a tissue culture laboratory and climate-controlled nurseries.
