OMUTHIYA – The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) donated agricultural products worth over N$300 000 to ten beneficiaries and the general public at the World Food Day celebration held on Friday at Omuthiya in the Oshikoto Region.
The donated produce included goats, fertilizers and vegetable seeds while the general public each received a pack of mahangu or sorghum seeds.
Celebrated under the theme “Family farming: feeding the world: caring for the earth,” the event highlighted awareness of food security and agricultural sustainability. This year’s theme is a symbol of recognition of the role that farmers play towards household and food sufficiency.
An estimated total of 805 million people worldwide in 2012-2014 are reported to be undernourished.
In Namibia, besides the fluctuating floods and droughts experienced in the country, there has been a slight improvement in agriculture production in 2013/14 compared to 2012/13.
Grazing conditions, livestock body conditions as well as household and food security are also reported to have improved this year.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Water and Forestry, Joseph Iita, alluded to the fact that government should be applauded for its efforts towards curbing poverty in the country.
“Namibia as a country is being driven by the goal of achieving national food self-sufficiency as stipulated in our Fourth National Development Plan (NDP4), which is aimed at poverty reduction and food security,” stated Iita.
He made reference to several government-initiated programmes through the ministry of agriculture geared towards ensuring household and national food security such as providing tractors, fertilizers, bulls, and encouraging development of irrigation based agronomic produce in Namibia, among others.
Uparura Kuvare, the assistant representative at FAO said women and the youth should be included in the effort to promote environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive economic growth.
“Women play a crucial role – from producing and marketing food to ensuring adequate nutrition of families,” stated Kuvare.
Similarly conducive environments should be created for the youth to view life in the rural areas as an opportunity – “this includes training programmes that can allow them to tap into their entrepreneurial potential,” noted Kuvare.
The Chairperson of the Oshikoto Regional Council and Councillor of the Onayena Constituency, Max Nekongo, urged the beneficiaries to appreciate government’s efforts. He said the beneficiaries should see the donations as manna from heaven as their children consistently need to be cared for.