As part of its commitment to sustainability and community development, B2Gold has undertaken the Erhardtshof Agriculture Project at the Otjikoto Gold Mine in Namibia. Located on Erhardtshof farm, one of the private commercial farms purchased to develop the mine, the initiative aims to address national food insecurity by bolstering the local production of maize and wheat, key staples in Namibian cuisine, and reducing reliance on imports.
Over the past four years, B2Gold has invested in the Erhardtshof Agriculture Project as a proof-of-concept endeavour. The project commenced with the installation of four 15-hectare pivot irrigation systems — a method of crop irrigation in which equipment rotates around a pivot and crops are watered with sprinklers, designed to maximize agricultural output. The aim of the initiative was to establish 90 ha of land under pivot irrigation. Based on a thorough study, a double-crop approach was adopted, with maize planted in summer and wheat in winter.
The success of this approach was evident in 2021, prompting the approval of two additional 15-hectare pivots. By 2023, the project yielded approximately 950 tonnes of maize and 500 tonnes of wheat, and in the 2023-2024 season, the initiative achieved a significant milestone, producing approximately 1,100 tonnes of white maize.
B2Gold Namibia Country Manager, John Roos, highlighted the farm’s contribution to food sustainability and financial stability. “We’ve got about 12 workers from the Otavi community. Our farmer is doing exceptionally well in training them and teaching them about crop production. We’re very excited about that,” said John.
John went on to explain that the Erhardtshof Agriculture Project has been engaged in intensive agricultural production with the support of an agricultural specialist and Namib Mills. “The farm’s first harvest in 2021 yielded 12.87 tonnes of maize per hectare and 220 bales of Katambora Rhodes grass, an animal feed known for its tolerance to warm temperatures and saline soils,” he said.
The harvested produce is marketed through Namib Mills at Otavi in Otjozondjupa Region, the largest producer of maize meal and pasta in Namibia. B2Gold’s contribution enables a substantial reduction in annual imports from South Africa, thereby enhancing Namibian food security and fostering self-reliance.
John commented that, “The successful approaches developed by the initiative are expected to benefit surrounding communities and integrate into the post-closure plans for the mine site. We believe this technique will allow Erhardtshof farm to produce 1,000 tonnes of maize and 700 tonnes of wheat annually, significantly contributing to Namibian food security.”