Lahja Nashuuta

Namibia, through the country’s agronomic board, is rededicating its efforts and strategies to address high levels of food imports, especially for staple food items such as white maize, wheat and pearl millet (mahangu). 

The Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) recently launched its Integrated Strategic Business Plan for 2025/30, where it outlines a clear roadmap to strengthen the nation’s agronomy and horticulture sectors.

Despite Namibia’s harsh climate conditions, the crop sector has shown remarkable resilience, contributing 7% to the national GDP and accounting for 30% of employment. 

However, the country still imports about 96% of its fruit consumption and relies heavily on foreign supplies for staple grains. 

The NAB is set to invest N$250 million over the next five years in crop value chain development under its new Integrated Strategic Business Plan, with the aim to achieve 60% grain self-sufficiency, 60% horticulture export growth, and a 97% compliance rate with regulatory frameworks.

The latest NAB Grain Market Report (2023/24) reveals that Namibia imported 100% of its white maize from South Africa, while wheat was sourced from Poland (47%), Latvia (43%), South Africa (8%), and Lithuania (2%).

Mahangu, a traditional staple also saw sharp declines in local production. Namibia imported 2,245 tons, mostly from Angola (90%) and India (10%), while only 382 tons were procured locally during the same period.

The report shows that Namibia’s overall grain production dropped by 31% in the 2023/24 season due to below-normal rainfall and poor yields across most farming regions.

Out of total grain demand, only 20%
(87 498 tons) was purchased locally from farmers, while imports supplied 70% (345 262 tons) to millers and silo operators.

In tonnage terms, local purchases consisted of 67 748 tons of white maize, 18 327 tons of wheat, and 1 423 tons of pearl millet. Compared to the previous season, this represents sharp declines of 31%, 26%, and 51% respectively.

The report further indicates that during the first half of 2024 alone, Namibia imported 105 775 tons of white maize, 86 655 tons of wheat, and 2 245 tons of mahangu to bridge local shortages.

The NAB estimated domestic demand for white maize at 135 943 tons, yet local producers only managed to supply 22% (39 168 tons) leaving 78% to be filled by imports. – lnashuuta@nepc.com.na