Did you know that everything around us, is a result of adding value to something else? If we are to specifically mention the items, the list is endless; from the automobile / vehicle that are driven, value was added on some components until that final product is formed. This is also true with the toothpaste we use, the clothes and shoes we wear, the gadgets we use, the chair we use for sitting on, the pens that we use to write and the smartphones that we use to communicate and yes the list seems to be infinite. More importantly; the foods that we consume on a daily basis, value has been added to a great number of them.
Valde Ndapwilwa Akumanga Leonard is a young Namibian man who is passionate about agriculture and food production. Valde co-founded VNA native foods with a primary focus of adding value to indigenous Namibian and African foods. Born in Outapi and raised in Aus, Valde attended his primary school at Aus and further moved on with his high school at Keetmanshoop. He spent his four years at UNAM studying Para-Vet studies from 2013 to 2016, hence he is a trained Para-Veterian or a vet nurse.
VNA native foods was initially founded in 2017 and product trials and operation started in 2019. From his early childhood, Valde grew up in a home and background where his parents were involved in business but on a very small-scale level. This raised a spark in him and led to his interest in business to grow. In 2017, when he decided to venture in business, he did an introspection of what he really wanted to do since the background and business knowledge was already within him. During his introspection, he identified a gap within the area of adding value to indigenous foods and commercialising them. The introspection led to the birth of VNA native foods. VNA native foods came as an inspiration from the unique indigenous Namibian and African foods that are available in abundance, however not much value is added on them. The opportunity is to add value and commercialise indigenous Namibian and African foods.
VNA native foods was privilege to win the 2018 Development Bank of Namibia innovation award. The Development Bank of Namibia innovation award grants an N$ 1 million to small business that have innovative viable business ideas in an attempt to enable them to fully pitch their businesses. According to Valde, his intend to use the received grant was focused on three key areas: product research and development (R&D), market research & market analysis (understanding the market) and the last area was for him to penetrate in the market.
African Spinach “Omboga Powdered Vegetable soup”
At VNA native foods, their very first line of products that they developed is Omboga vegetable soup that comes in three (3) different flavours namely; Original, Chilli and Minestrone. The Omboga vegetable soup is packaged in 50g and 200g sacks. A first of its kind for Namibia, Omboga is a nutritious vegetable soup that adds flavour and good taste to the food. The original flavour of the soup, gives the real authentic taste and smell of the wild spinach; it have a great taste and a must have for every Namibian that are food-savvy and those that value nutritious products. The Omboga vegetable soup is developed based on the AOAC 985.92 standards. It has further been confirmed by South African laboratory tests and standards and is proven to be safe for human consumption. The main ingredients in the soup is spinach “Omboga”.
According to Valde; as soon as the spinach, “Omboga” arrives at the factory, it undergoes several processes to get rid of much impurities and micro-organisms as possible. Some of the processes include cleaning, sorting, a soaking process for about 20 hours, and then finally drying and grinding the spinach. In essence, before the spinach goes through the process of drying & grinding, it undergoes a cooking process. During the cooking process, the temperature reaches a level of 95 – 100 degrees Celcius, killing micro-organisms that might pose danger to humans and making it safe for human consumption.The Omboga vegetable soup goes through a rigorous process making it safe and convenient for human consumption.
In the nearby future, VNA native foods intends to add more product lines to their inventions. According to Valde, it will be between 10 to 15 products, as they will strive to venture in producing beverages and inventions of other product types. Currently, the Omboga vegetable soup is available in Windhoek namely: Beukes Spar in Khomasdal, Spar (Grove mall), Spar (Maerua mall), Spar (West lane), Spar (Hoch land Park) and Namica Supermarket in Okuryangava. The Omboga vegetable soup will not only be available in Windhoek but countrywide and negotiation are underway with other retailers in different towns (North, South, East and West) to include the product in their shelves. At the moment, for those interested in the Omboga vegetable soup and are based in other towns, they can contact VNA native foods or for Valde at 081 400 1834 or email: valdeleonard@yahoo.com They are more than willing to courier the delicious Omboga vegetable soup country wide while it`s still in the process of reaching the retailers in other parts of the country. For southern based people, they can contact the following number for order of the product: 081 211 0509.
Valde encouraged the masses to try out Omboga vegetable soup as it is very nutritious, is made from real vegetable ingredients and it is a 100% Namibian product. He emphasized that we should support local products as the more we support local products, in that way we will keep the money circulating within the country and we equally create jobs locally. Valde also noted that, although Covid-19 affected a great number of us negatively this year, we should keep on trusting in God, have hope for a better tomorrow and we should never give up on life. Lastly, he emphasized that part of the new normal is for country to become self-sustainable. According to him, country like Namibia have to become self-sustainable in terms of their own food production, manufacturing and many other areas.
For further info on Omboga vegetable soup and order of products, contact: 081 400 1834 Email: valdeleonard@yahoo.com