Namibian Hangala Foods opens US$2.1M milling plant
The addition of an alternative brand could lead to price competition and potentially improved access to maize meal
NAMIBIA – Hangala Foods has officially inaugurated an N$35 million (US$2.1M) milling plant at Ombanje Farm, near Otavi, bringing its own maize-meal brand Otavi Golden Maize to the Namibian staple foods market.
The Ombanje Milling Plant, completed following an 18-month construction period, incorporates advanced infrastructure, including modern grain-receiving systems, a dedicated laboratory for quality assurance, storage silos, a product house, a weighbridge, and on-site offices and canteen facilities.
With a daily milling capacity of 50 tonnes, the facility is equipped with two 500-tonne silos to maintain a consistent supply chain throughout the year.
Operating on two shifts, the plant has generated 38 permanent employment opportunities in the Otavi area, while approximately 120 individuals were engaged during the construction phase.
According to the company, the Otavi Golden Maize is available in three variants: Super Maize Meal, Special Sifted Maize Meal, and Unsifted Maize Meal. Positioned as a premium, fully Namibian product.
All processed from maize grown at Ombanje Farm, then milled at the new plant.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, Leake Hangala, CEO of Hangala Foods, said that the maize meal brand represents more than nourishment but symbolizes Namibia’s latent potential.
“With this “farm-to-mill” model, the company aims to stabilise supply, exercise strict quality control, and ensure that rural communities retain more value from grain production,” he said.
The staple maize-meal market in Namibia has been largely dominated by Namib Mills and Bokomo Namibia. With Otavi Golden Maize now entering the market, the competitive landscape could shift.
“With foresight, innovation and determination, we can feed our people, strengthen our economy, and build a more resilient nation from the soil upward,” Hangala said.
The investment comes at a time when the country is recovering from reduced production influenced primarily by climatic conditions such as droughts. The country is a net importer of cereals, with imports accounting, on average, for about two‑thirds of the total national consumption requirement.
In the 2024/25 marketing year, maize imports totaled 290,000 tonnes to offset production shortfalls recorded in the 2022/23 due to severe drought.
Forecasts for 2025 indicate a recovery, with white maize output projected at 72,880 tonnes, reflecting improved precipitation and agricultural conditions.
However, according to FAO, cereal import needs in the 2025/26 marketing year (May/April) are estimated to decrease from the elevated level in 2024/25, when a well above‑average volume of 290,000 tonnes of maize was imported to compensate for the shortfall in production in 2024.
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