KATIMA MULILO – The government has reinforced its commitment to climate resilience, food security and rehabilitation by donating agricultural machinery and 200 mango trees to the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) in Katima Mulilo.
It is seen as a strategic investment in environmental restoration, climate change mitigation and human development.
The NCS has acquired the idle 1 000-hectare Katima-Liselo farm in the Zambezi region to develop a major food-producing facility.
The project, launched in 2024, aims to enhance national food security, rehabilitate offenders through agricultural training and supply food to correctional facilities and drought-relief efforts.
Importantly, the initiative aims to shift from relying on rainwater to high-yield irrigation, improving self-sufficiency, reducing food costs and providing rehabilitation for inmates.
Speaking during the handover this week, Roderick Maswabi, chief agriculture scientific officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, said the donation goes beyond tools and equipment.
“This is more than machinery. It is a commitment to food security, employment creation and improved livelihoods,” Maswabi said.
The ministry temporarily provided two tractors, a mouldboard plough, one disc plough, two reapers and a wheat planter to boost agricultural production within correctional facilities.
By strengthening food production systems, the initiative reduces dependency while building national resilience in the face of climate uncertainty.
Maswabi highlighted that agriculture plays a dual role – securing food supplies while equipping inmates with practical skills.
“With these tools, the correctional service will expand agricultural production, ensuring a reliable food supply, reducing dependency and strengthening national resilience,” he said.
He added that rehabilitation through farming restores dignity and prepares inmates for reintegration into society.
“When food is secure, jobs are created, skills are shared and communities thrive. This initiative is about growth, hope and the future of Namibia,” Maswabi noted.
Complementing the agricultural equipment donation was the handover of 200 Mangifera indica (mango) trees by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.
Teodor Kambuu, chief forester, framed the tree-planting initiative as a direct response to climate change and land degradation.
“This occasion is more than a symbolic donation of seedlings. It is a practical and meaningful investment in our environment, our communities and our future generation,” Kambuu said.
Namibia, like many countries, faces deforestation, soil erosion and the intensifying impacts of climate change.
He said tree planting is a key strategy in restoring degraded landscapes and strengthening ecosystem resilience.
“Trees play a vital role in protecting our soil from erosion, improving soil fertility and restoring degraded land,” he said.
Kambuu underscored the urgency of climate action. “Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is a present reality. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, acting as natural carbon sinks. Through this initiative, we are strengthening our national efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change and building resilience within our communities,” he added.
Beyond environmental restoration, the orchard project serves as a rehabilitation tool.
Inmates will gain hands-on experience in horticulture, orchard management and sustainable land management.
“Tree planting and orchard management provide practical agricultural skills,” Kambuu noted.
“Inmates involved in caring for these trees will gain valuable knowledge in environmental stewardship and sustainable land management – skills they can carry with them upon reintegration into society,” he stated.
The initiative demonstrates how climate action can intersect with social transformation, turning correctional facilities into hubs of sustainability and skills development.
Kambuu noted that “a tree planted today is a legacy for tomorrow. The shade, the fruit and the environmental benefits will serve many people for years to come”.