Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Namibia achieves 45% food self-sufficiency

Home Agriculture Namibia achieves 45% food self-sufficiency
Namibia achieves 45% food self-sufficiency

For the first time in about 15 years, Namibia has managed to achieve a rate of 45% food self-sufficiency – thanks to local farmers who continue to contribute towards the reduction of staple grain imports, such as maize, pearl millet and wheat. 

Sustained output from smallholder and large-scale farmers across the country has been one of the major contributing factors to improved food self-sufficiency, as well as general end-to-end food systems across the various production value chains. 

The strategic partnership between the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) and the Namibia Agronomic Board (NAB) has helped to ensure there is a smooth collaboration between farmers, agro-processors and industry marketing agreements that will boost crop production, market access and overall sustainability. 

Zambezi regional governor Lawrence Sampofu has also underscored the region’s significant contribution to white maize and pearl millet grains, emphasising the need for farmers to utilise fertile land and favourable rainfall. 

He said the Zambezi region accounts for 7% of white maize and 25% of pearl millet of the country’s grain production.

Meanwhile, NAB continues to ensure all required regulations of agronomic and horticultural products movement are in place, and that the facilitation of import restrictions are enforced to protect local producers from competition and promote food self-sufficiency through market share promotion, special controlled products and grain marketing schemes. “The objective is to expand operations, increase crop production and propel Namibia towards food self-sufficiency while diminishing dependence on imports. We reaffirm our commitment to implementing a robust import substitution programme by creating a conducive environment and a thriving market for local farmers,” said NAB’s CEO Fidelis Mwazi. 

On his part, WFP’s representative and country director George Fedha said they have placed special emphasis on promoting end-to-end food systems in Namibia, providing climate-smart technology, drought-resistant seeds, infrastructure investment, clean energy, market access and agricultural training.

“Over the years, WFP has been complementing Namibia’s priorities in scaling up domestic food production, and facilitating partnerships and investments that enable the country to capture greater value from the food system as well as strengthening systems and structures that demonstrate efficiency and effectiveness to deliver on this mandate,” shared Fedha. 

The impact of the current global and national food-price crisis on food security is heightened by various factors, including low production of food, limited access to modern farming technologies and practices, poor soil fertility, overgrazing and prolonged dry spells. 

In Namibia, approximately 54% of smallholder farmers are women who live in communal areas, where access to land and water is challenging. 

It is against this background that WFP provides training to government counterparts on the use of drones and other high-tech equipment in emergency response and preparedness, drought-monitoring systems for early-action mitigation and long-term investments to build drought-resilient communities.

Almost all Namibian farmers are susceptible to disasters affecting southern African countries, namely floods, droughts and epidemics. 

The country is also prone to pest invasions and disease outbreaks in crops and livestock. – ohembapu@nepc.com.na