The 5th edition of the Bank Windhoek Agriculture Series will take place tomorrow, and will see key agriculture experts highlighting new growth areas, presenting a working formula for the export basket’s productivity, competitiveness, expansion and diversification. 

This year’s edition, which will be held under the theme “Cultivating change: Strategies for a Resilient Agricultural Future”, will be graced by Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila as the keynote speaker. 

In May 2024, the government declared a state of emergency due to the persistent drought in all regions. 

According to the Integrated Fo od S e c u r i ty Ph a s e Class i f ication, Namibia’s deteriorating food security is mainly driven by climatic and price shocks, economic decline, and unemployment. 

Through the Office of the Prime Minister, the government released the Drought Relief Programme (2024/25) to alleviate the hardships caused by the drought, and to assist drought-stricken communities. 

Bank Windhoek’s executive officer for marketing and corporate communication services Jacquiline Pack said the agriculture sector has always been a cornerstone of Namibia’s economy and society, contributing around 6% to GDP, and creating employment opportunities. 

She said discussing new farming methods to mitigate and adapt to climate change effects is vital. 

“Identifying comparative advantages, resilient crops and innovative ways to farm sustainably in the era of the drought is essential. Equally, there are immense opportunities to reduce the food import bill, and address household and national food security goals,” she said. 

“Additionally, water supply is a critical input for farming. Without water, farming activities will not happen. Therefore, in an era where drought persists, there is a need to learn new methods on how to use limited water for farming, how to harvest water, and how to adapt to crops that use less water.” 

Since 2018, Bank Windhoek has hosted and broadcast various agriculture talk series on social media platforms to inform interested parties about relevant agriculture trends and topics and, concurrently, create a platform where experts in the sector can share their knowledge and contribute to the sector’s commitment and drive. 

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Last month, the Bank of Namibia (BoN) issued a determination on policy change in response to economic and financial stability challenges resulting from the state of emergency on the ongoing drought. 

In terms of this determination, banking institutions must implement the following relief measures: Restructuring of loans, granting of loan moratoriums and emergency funding under preferential terms. 

The determination is set to provide relief to agricultural customers who demonstrate that drought has severely affected them.