KATIMA MULILO – The Namibian Agronomic Board at its annual National Agronomic and Horticulture Awards (NAHA) recognised and awarded the country’s various top crop producers, processors and service providers during an award ceremony held at Katima Mulilo’s Waterfront and Tourism Park in the Zambezi region.
The event shone a spotlight on excellence, resilience, and innovation within Namibia’s agricultural sector, which saw millet and maize producers to processors, exporters, and service providers, as well as dozens of trailblazers, all being honoured for their outstanding contributions to the country’s food security and economic growth.
In the agronomy producers’ category, Salatiel Iipinge walked away with the title of Outstanding Pearl Millet Producer of the Year award, while Katrina Kangwe was crowned as the Emerging Pearl Millet Producer of the Year.
In the maize producers category, B2Gold Namibia was named the Outstanding White Maize Producer of the Year, with Charity Siseho taking the emerging category. The wheat category was dominated by green scheme projects, with Uvhungu Vhungu and Ndonga Linena clinching the top honours.
The special awards spotlighted innovation and youth participation, which saw Abisai Shikongo being recognised as the Outstanding Innovator Producer of the Year, while Kupferberg Farming CC scooped the Youth Producer of the Year title.
Musipili Muchaka was named Outstanding Small-Scale Producer of the Year. On the processing side, Namib Mills Investment Group once again asserted its dominance, being awarded the Outstanding Agronomy Processor of the Year, while Opoto Mills earned the emerging title.
In the horticulture awards, Derust Farm of Kalahari Holdings was celebrated as the Outstanding Horticulture Producer of the Year, with Poshereen Investment CC taking the emerging slot.
AvaGro Namibia impressed judges to secure the Outstanding Innovation Producer Award, while Daures Sixty-Five Agriculture Pty Ltd was named the Emerging Innovator, while youth excellence shone through with Chimati Farms and Youchor Upopya Boerderk recognised as top youth producers.
Other standout winners included Cosina Farm (Outstanding Small-Scale Horticulture Producer), Farm Burgerveld (Emerging Exporter Award), and Freshco Fruit & Veg Traders CC (Outstanding Trader of the Year).
Schools were not left out as Faustinus Haididira Combined School and Origo Primary School were recognised for their thriving school gardens.
The Master Value Chain Actor Awards capped the ceremony, with Namibia Fresh Produce Market winning Emerging Master Crop Value Chain of the Year, and Namib Mills Investment Group once again honoured as the Overall Outstanding Master Crop Value Chain Actor of the Year.
Delivering his keynote, Fidelis Mwazi, Chief Executive Officer of the Namibian Agronomic Board, underscored the importance of recognising excellence across the value chain.
“Hosting this annual event in such a vibrant agricultural hub is not only symbolic but also deeply significant. It reflects our collective recognition of the men and women who drive the crop sector forward – from farmers who nurture the soil, to processors who add value, traders who connect markets, input suppliers who ensure productivity, and all other stakeholders whose commitment sustains Namibia’s food security and economic growth,” said Mwazi.
Mwazi reminded participants that the theme for this year, “Unlocking the Potential of the Crop Sector Through Agro-processing Innovation”, is a call to action.
“It challenges us to look beyond primary production and embrace the transformative opportunities that value addition brings. As we celebrate the outstanding achievements of our champions, let us also commit ourselves to building stronger value chains, expanding market access, and unlocking the full potential of agronomy and horticulture as engines of national prosperity,” he said. All in all, the ceremony witnessed a resounding celebration of Namibia’s agricultural heroes, whose innovation and resilience continue to shape the nation’s food systems and rural development.