Namibia National Farmers Union (NNFU) president Adolf Muremi says farmers cannot achieve production efficiency due to production, distribution, access and climate change challenges. 

Speaking at the recent launch of the Strategy for the Transformation of the Agriculture Sector (STAS), he said the challenges include bush encroachment, which reduces grazing capacity and limits underground water. 

Further challenges are limited access to markets, particularly for farmers in the northern communal areas (NCA), and the lack of infrastructure and roads infrastructure. 

“Our goal is not just survival, but growth. Agriculture’s contribution to our GDP can and must increase, but this requires a fundamental shift in focus towards production efficiency. We cannot achieve this while farmers face these challenges,” Muremi said. 

He noted that the agricultural sector is Namibia’s backbone, and every investment in agricultural produc t ivi t y mul t ipl i e s throughout the economy. 

“As farmers’ unions, we have shown that collaboration is possible, despite our different perspectives. Now, we extend our hand to the government and other stakeholders. Let us build on this foundation of unity to create an agricultural sector that truly serves all Namibians,” he said. 

Muremi represented four farmers unions, namely the NNFU, the Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers Union (NECFU), Namibia Agriculture Union (NAU), and the Previously- Disadvantaged Namibia Farmers Union (PDNFU). 

He said unions welcome and support Namibia’s Comprehensive AfricanAgricultural Development Programme (CAADP) under the African Union member states, as part of Agenda 2063. 

“Our nation’s agricultural landscape faces unprecedented challenges. Yet, we have also witnessed unprecedented unity. For the first time in our history, all four farmers’ unions stand together, united in purpose and vision. This is not merely a symbolic gesture – it represents a fundamental shift in how we approach our sector’s challenges and opportunities,” he said. 

Minister of agriculture Calle Schlettwein, in a speech read on his behalf at the launch, said Namibia is committed to implementing the CAADP, which will compel all member states to develop a National Agriculture Investment Plan, and sign the CAADP Compact. 

“Our ministry as the custodian of the agriculture, water and land-related sectors spearheaded the formulation of the strategy for the transformation of the agri-food sector,” he said. 

The STAS positions agriculture as a major driver of economic development, specifically by targeting youth employment. 

– Nampa