Farmers at the centre of Namibia’s economic strategy
Government prioritises farmers, food security
Namibia’s agriculture sector is set for transformative growth under the eighth administration, with a focus on employment creation, poverty eradication and reducing dependence on food imports, agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani said at the 2025 Agri Outlook Conference.“Government has prioritised the development of agriculture for many years because it recognises that this is pivotal to our economic transformation,” Zaamwani said. “The emphasis is particularly on employment creation, poverty eradication and reducing dependency on food imports. Our vision is to grow, diversify and modernise the agricultural value chain.”
Addressing farmers’ concerns about access to the ministry, Zaamwani acknowledged delays in meeting requests but assured stakeholders that engagement was underway. “Let me assure our farmers, as the president of the NNFU has said, many of you have requested to see me, and I’m one of those who have not been able to meet you – not because I don’t want to. I’m very honest; my portfolio is just huge, and I have to work through it systematically.”
She added that progress was being made. “I’m pleased to say I’m getting closer. My turnaround times are now addressing issues that came in August and September. To those still waiting for meetings, please be patient. We are coming. Rome was not built in a day.”
Ambitious growth targets
Under Namibia’s National Development Plan 6 (NDP6), Zaamwani outlined ambitious sector targets. She said the contribution of the livestock and crop subsectors to GDP is expected to rise from 4.6% to 8% by 2030. “So, the question for us as farmers is: how are we going to do that? If you are involved in the horticulture or livestock subsector, it’s to see my output as a contribution towards the national target.”
Another goal is to increase the value of strategic crop exports from N$1.9 billion to N$2.8 billion by 2030. Zaamwani emphasised the role of the Namibia Agronomic Board (NAB) and the Agro Marketing and Trade Agency (AMTA) in supporting farmers. “We are going to work collectively on those challenges so that together we can come up with solutions that are practical and achievable,” she said.
Boosting local food production
Improving local food production is another priority. “The other key target under NDP6 is to increase local food production to 80% to substitute imports. This is crucial, given where we currently stand at 47%. We acknowledge the climatic conditions and water scarcity challenges, but this is what we must work towards,” she said. Zaamwani stressed that boosting production is vital for food security and national sovereignty. “If you are being fed by somebody else, that person has a role to play in what we are doing.”
The minister also referred to challenges identified in a 2023 Harvard Growth Lab study, including high input costs and limited access to seeds suited to local agro-ecological conditions. “Our input costs are high because we depend on imported inputs such as fertilisers and seeds,” she said. She highlighted opportunities to develop local seed and fodder production. “I know that the University of Namibia, in collaboration with the NAB, is developing NAM Seeds – our own locally branded seeds. Zambia has theirs, as do Zimbabwe and South Africa. It’s about time we work together to achieve those milestones.”
Input costs and building resilience
Zaamwani urged the sector to prioritise climate resilience. “It also means looking at climate-resilience strategies and technology to help us improve our food production,” she said, noting lessons learned from Covid-19 shortages.
In conclusion, Zaamwani introduced President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as the keynote speaker, highlighting her commitment to agriculture and national development. “Her Excellency recognises that the strength of our country lies in the Namibian people. As she advances policies and promotes agriculture as her number one priority, it’s because she believes in the strength of Namibian farmers. Let us not disappoint. Let us rise to the trust that has been placed in us by Her Excellency.”
She praised the president for her focus on youth, women, inclusivity and anti-corruption. “She often tells me that agriculture is a ‘do or die’. And obviously, we don’t want to die. We want to move forward, to grow, and to make our country proud that we are able to feed ourselves.”