Oshikoto aims to become Namibia’s food basket
The Oshikoto Region has the potential to become Namibia’s food basket, but realising this ambition will require sustained investment in water infrastructure, irrigation, agricultural technology and reliable markets, Governor Sacky Kathindi has said.
Speaking at the region’s World Food Day commemoration in Onyaanya Constituency on 30 October, Kathindi called for stronger cooperation between government, farmers, the private sector and development partners to increase agricultural production and improve livelihoods.
He said Oshikoto had opportunities in crop production, livestock farming, horticulture and agro-processing, but that these could only be fully developed through deliberate planning and sustained investment.
“Oshikoto Region has the potential to become Namibia’s food basket,” he said, adding that the region needed to produce and process more of what the country consumes.
Where local production could meet national demand competitively, Namibia should strengthen its capacity to reduce reliance on imports, retain wealth within communities and create employment, he said.
The commemoration was held under the theme Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow, with Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Ruth Masake and representatives of government, development partners, traditional authorities, farmers and local communities in attendance.
Kathindi said World Food Day served as a reminder that food was not merely a basic necessity, but also a foundation for good health, human dignity, economic development and national prosperity.
However, poverty, unemployment, drought and climate change continued to affect food security, particularly in vulnerable communities.
Practical solutions
He called for practical solutions to improve food production, preservation, distribution and consumption. These included climate-smart farming practices, better water harvesting, drought-resistant crop varieties, conservation agriculture, improved livestock management and reducing post-harvest losses.
Small-scale and communal farmers, in particular, should be encouraged to share knowledge, adopt appropriate technologies and explore sustainable ways of increasing productivity despite changing climatic conditions.
Kathindi also called for greater support for household food production, women and young people in agriculture, improved access to agricultural information and services, and more income-generating opportunities along the agricultural value chain.
He emphasised that food security involved more than simply ensuring that food was available. It also required access to nutritious food, proper food utilisation and stable supplies throughout the year.
Nutrition education, food safety, school nutrition initiatives and community awareness should therefore remain part of efforts to improve food security. Households and institutions should also make productive use of available land and water resources, establish gardens where conditions permit and reduce food waste.
Stronger food systems
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reinforced the call for practical innovation and stronger local food systems.
Ferdinard Mwapopi, FAO assistant representative, said Namibia continued to face food security challenges linked to water scarcity, drought, climate change and dependence on food imports. These pressures affected agricultural production, farmers’ livelihoods and the availability and affordability of food.
He said innovation did not necessarily require expensive technology or entirely new approaches. It could involve using water more efficiently, improving farming methods, reducing food losses, adding value to locally produced goods and helping farmers access markets.
For Namibia, innovation should strengthen local food production, support farmers and move the country towards greater food self-reliance.
Committed
Mwapopi said FAO remained committed to supporting the government’s efforts through technical expertise, capacity-building, support for agriculture and fisheries, sustainable natural resource management and improved value chains and market opportunities.
This work is guided by the FAO Country Programming Framework for Namibia 2025–2029, which aligns the organisation’s support with national development priorities.
He said cooperation between government, development partners, research institutions and other stakeholders was important in sharing knowledge and adapting successful approaches to Namibia’s conditions, while also building on the experience of local farmers and communities.
Farmers and food producers needed access to the right knowledge, skills, resources and markets to improve production, increase their incomes and contribute to national food security.
Mwapopi also highlighted the importance of creating more opportunities for young people in agriculture, noting that the sector offered scope for innovation, entrepreneurship, job creation and income generation. Women, small-scale producers and vulnerable communities also needed support to benefit from these opportunities.
Building resilience
Both speakers stressed the importance of protecting the natural resources on which food production depends.
Mwapopi said sustainable farming practices were essential to help farmers cope with climate-related challenges, while safeguarding land and water resources.
He linked this to FAO’s vision of the Four Betters: Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life, leaving no one behind.
Kathindi called on farmers, young people, development partners and private-sector stakeholders to turn commitments into practical action and invest in sustainable agricultural development.
Food security, he said, was a shared responsibility that no single institution could achieve alone. Stronger cooperation and innovation would help communities withstand drought, economic pressures and other challenges affecting food availability.
Mwapopi concluded that the aim should be a future in which farmers have better opportunities, young people can build livelihoods through agriculture and every Namibian has access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. All photos Loise Shiimi
