Windhoek
Former president Hifikepunye Pohamba yesterday donated N$1 million to his Foundation. The funds will be used to support students aspiring to venture into agricultural studies.
“I cannot overemphasise the importance of agriculture being the backbone of our economy, but when that very backbone is threatened by forces which we have no control over, it requires acceleration of our efforts and interventions to secure the resources we have at our disposal,” Pohamba said.
Such resources, he said can only be secured with the technical know-how through education and training of the country’s human resources.
“It is in this context that we need agriculturalists, food and animal nutritionists and other professionals, who will do research and find solutions in mitigation effects of food insecurity and related challenges,” he said.
Pohamba also used the opportunity to applaud government for policies and programmes intended to improve food security at national and household levels, saying these are aimed at improving the living standards of Namibians.
“However, there is a need for citizens to compliment government efforts by providing the much-needed assistance through the training and education of our young men and women,” said Pohamba.
Last year, seven students benefitted from the Hifikepunye Pohamba Foundation, while this year three students in agriculture-related fields will benefit.
“In consultation with the trustees of the Hifikepunye Pohamba Foundation I have resolved to focus on agriculture and food security as a discipline, in order to train and equip many Namibians to find solutions for the many challenges we face in the country as a result of poor rainfall,” said the former president.
His Foundation was officially launched in 2014.