Oniipa Teacher Turns Passion for Trees into Small-Scale Farming Business

Oniipa Teacher Turns Passion for Trees into Small-Scale Farming Business. A teacher from Oniipa, Vistorina Joel, has combined her love for agriculture with entrepreneurship, earning around N$6,000 a month by selling fruit and ornamental trees to her community. Joel, who teaches at Iipumbu Senior Secondary School in Oshakati, cultivates mango, guava, custard apple, paw-paw, lemon, avocado, granadilla, and grafted orange trees.

She reaches customers through direct sales and a WhatsApp group, connecting with buyers in and around Oniipa and Oshakati. “I sell all the trees at N$30, except for avocado trees at N$50 and grafted orange trees at N$150,” she explained.

Joel’s passion for tree cultivation is driven not only by potential income but also by her interest in agriculture and reducing carbon emissions. At her homestead in Oniipa, she has planted around 70 trees, some of which are already bearing fruit. While the current produce is reserved for household consumption, Joel plans to sell the fruits starting next year.

Watering her plants is managed through a combination of tap water and harvested rainwater during the rainy season. Joel notes that water costs have been manageable, averaging about N$1,100 per month. “Water is not as expensive as I expected. During rainy seasons, I use rainwater, and even on dry days, the bill is only slightly higher, about N$900,” she said.

Constituency councillor Vilho Nuunyango highlighted the importance of formal requests to support small-scale farmers in the region. “My office supports small-scale farmers, but only when formal requests are submitted. I have not received any requests so far, and I am not aware of the total number of small-scale farmers in my constituency,” he said.

Joel’s initiative showcases the potential for small-scale farming to provide both income and environmental benefits while encouraging community members to explore agriculture as a viable livelihood. Her efforts may inspire more local farmers to formalise operations and seek support from local authorities in the future.