CHAMWE KAIRA
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform has released a report titled ‘Strategy for the Transformation of the Agri-Food Sector, 2025/26–2030/31.
Agriculture continues to be the primary source of food, employment, and income for the majority of Namibians.
It is the biggest employer, responsible for 23% of the labour force, also on account of the labour intensive nature of agriculture.
The report said a growing Namibian middle class, along with large-scale rural-to-urban migration and a projected 74% growth of the national population from 2.5 million in 2021 to 4.4 million in 2050, are expected to increase the local demand for food.
“Demand also surges in international markets for meat, meat products, and agronomic and horticultural products. High international commodity prices should benefit local production of grapes, dates, vegetables, beef and mutton. The primary production should support the secondary industry through investment in value-added meat as well as agronomic and horticultural products. The regional and international trade agreements, especially through the EU and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), guarantee markets for Namibian agricultural products,” the report said.
Namibia imports the majority of its domestic demand for all cereals, specifically 68% of pearl millet, 61% of maize, and 80% of wheat.
The report said that despite declines in cattle production (with droughts between 2013 and 2019 causing a reduction of the national cattle herd of around 40%), it remains the major sub-sector responsible for 43% of total agricultural output.
Despite being the largest employer in Namibia, agricultural employment decreased by over 40% between 1997 and 2004.
The Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Carl Schlettwein, said 70% of Namibia’s population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods.
“Namibia is also a net importer of food commodities, a situation that has made food and nutrition insecurity a national threat, especially in the face of increased vulnerability to climate change and external shocks. The incidence of malnutrition, stunting and hunger is also a public concern in Namibia, exacerbated by high unemployment rates, high household poverty levels and income inequality,” the minister said.
The report said that since independence in 1990, the government has placed a strong emphasis on the importance of agriculture to the national economy.
Since 1991, the government, private sector, and development partners have made significant investments in the agri-food sector.
However, the rate of agricultural growth has remained low, with an average output growth of only 1.6% between 1990 and 2020, the report said.
