Our projects

Eliminating Post-Harvest Loss: A Case Study in Value Addition for Smallholder Farmers

Post-harvest loss remains one of the most significant barriers to food security and economic resilience in Namibia, with estimates indicating that up to 40% of fresh produce is lost due to inadequate processing, storage, or market access. For smallholder farmers, these losses translate directly into reduced income and diminished returns on investment.

Obed & Grace Investments CC, a female-led horticultural enterprise, recently confronted this challenge head-on. After harvesting a high-quality onion crop, the produce was rejected by traditional buyers due to its smaller-than-standard size. Rather than accepting the loss, the farmer sought a sustainable solution—and turned to Ileni Agrosolution & Consultancy CC.

A Strategic Intervention: From Rejection to Revenue

Our team initiated a rapid-response value-addition program, ensuring 100% utilization of the harvest. Within days, the entire batch of “baby onions” was transformed into three commercially viable, shelf-stable products:

• Sliced Spring Onions – Prepped and packaged for fresh retail and food service markets.

• Pickled Bottled Onions – Preserved for long-term stability and consistent supply to local retailers.

• Onion Powder – A high-demand seasoning with low bulk, ideal for both domestic and regional export.

This intervention not only prevented total crop loss but also created new revenue streams, demonstrating the power of targeted agroprocessing.

Building Long-Term Resilience

Beyond immediate processing, Ileni Agrosolution is now developing customized agroprocessing equipment specifications tailored to the farm’s operational scale, budget, and infrastructure. This includes low-cost, energy-efficient tools designed to enable consistent production and eliminate future post-harvest vulnerabilities.

Our Commitment to Zero Loss

At Ileni Agrosolution & Consultancy CC, we view post-harvest loss not as an inevitability, but as an opportunity for innovation. Through technical expertise, market linkage, and farmer-centered solutions, we are working to ensure that every harvest contributes to Namibia’s food security and economic growth.

From Challenge to Innovation: How We Helped Transform Mee Vilha’s Fat Cake Business

At Ileni Agrosolution & Consultancy CC, our mission is to support informal traders and small businesses with practical agroprocessing solutions that improve product quality, efficiency, and profitability.

Recently, we partnered with Mee Vilha, an informal trader from Okandjengedi, who came to us with real challenges affecting her business. She shared three major concerns:

1. Everyone was selling the same plain fat cakes, making it difficult for her to stand out.

2. Her sales were dropping, and she wanted a unique product that could attract more customers.

3. She was struggling with wastage of raw materials due to inconsistent preparation methods, and wanted to reduce costs.

Our Solution

In our Agroprocessing Laboratory, we developed a two-part solution tailored to her needs:

1. Product Innovation: New Flavoured Fat Cakes

We created three unique, market-ready flavours that differentiate her from other vendors:

• Ginger – warm, refreshing, and perfect for kids and sweet lovers.

• Cinnamon – aromatic and comforting, offering a premium feel.

• Spicy – bold and flavourful, ideal for pairing with Kapana or grilled meat.

These flavours immediately gave her a competitive edge and renewed customer excitement.

2. Standardizing Her Processing Methods

To reduce costs and prevent wastage, we helped her standardize her production process by introducing measuring tools and controlled ingredient ratios.
This ensures:

• Consistent taste and quality

• Better cost control

• Reduced waste of raw materials

• Improved profit margins

A Story of Growth

Today, Mee Vilha’s fat cakes stand out in the market — not just because of their flavour, but because of the efficiency and consistency behind them.

At Ileni Agrosolution & Consultancy CC, this is what we do:
we turn everyday products into innovative, profitable, and reliable offerings.

If you’re a vendor, farmer, or food entrepreneur ready to improve your product or streamline your processing methods, we are here to help.