Sostenus Wilherm
The ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform has challenged the University of Namibia (Unam) to produce research that goes beyond academic publications and directly informs government policy and action on food security, water scarcity, climate change, fisheries and land reform.
Deputy minister Ruthy Masake made the call on Tuesday during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the ministry and Unam at the ministry’s head office in Windhoek.
Masake said Namibia’s challenges in agriculture, fisheries, water and land management were too complex to be addressed through policies and programmes alone, stressing that the government needed reliable information, scientific research, innovation and technical expertise to develop effective solutions.
“These are not merely academic questions. They are practical challenges that require practical solutions,” Masake said.
The deputy minister said the partnership with Unam should establish a stronger link between research conducted by the university and decisions taken by the government.
She said the ministry expected Unam to conduct research that responds directly to challenges affecting the country’s agricultural, fisheries, water and land reform sectors.
“We need research that helps us answer important questions: How can we improve agricultural productivity and food security in Namibia? How can we strengthen climate-resilient agriculture and support our farmers?” Masake asked.
She also highlighted the need for research into sustainable fisheries and aquatic resource management, water security and the management of Namibia’s scarce water resources, as well as land reform, sustainable land use and rural development.
According to Masake, the value of the MOU will ultimately depend on whether research findings can be translated into practical interventions.
“Research must inform policy, and policy must translate into implementation,” she said.
The ministry, she added, could perform better when its decisions were continuously informed by relevant, credible and practical research.
Masake said the ministry wanted Unam to provide research findings, policy recommendations, technical advice and innovative solutions that could be considered and implemented where appropriate.
“Our expectation is that this partnership will establish a continuous link between research and government action,” she said.
She further called for closer cooperation between Unam researchers and technical officials within the ministry to ensure that research priorities correspond with the actual needs of the agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform sectors.
Masake said the partnership should not end with the production of research reports, but should involve continuous research, regular sharing of findings, practical recommendations and monitoring of interventions that are implemented.
“Where research identifies challenges, we need recommendations. Where it identifies opportunities, we need practical interventions. Where it proposes innovations, we need to explore how those innovations can be tested and adopted,” she said.
The deputy minister said this approach would help ensure that knowledge generated by universities contributes directly to national development instead of remaining within academic institutions.
She also urged the ministry’s technical departments to make full use of opportunities created by the agreement, including identifying priority research areas and sharing relevant information with Unam where appropriate.
The MOU comes as Namibia continues to face pressure from climate change, water scarcity, food insecurity and land degradation, challenges that Masake said require stronger institutional cooperation and evidence-based decision-making.
“Partnerships of this nature are essential. We need to strengthen our institutions, promote innovation and ensure that our development decisions are informed by sound evidence,” she said.
Masake described the signing as an important step towards strengthening cooperation between the ministry and Unam, based on shared responsibility and a common commitment to national development.
She said the ultimate objective should be to ensure that research is relevant, knowledge is shared, innovation is encouraged and evidence is converted into practical solutions.
“The ministry can do better when it is informed by research. Our sectors can develop better when evidence supports our policies. And our people can benefit more when research and knowledge are translated into practical solutions,” Masake said.
She expressed hope that the partnership would contribute to a more productive, sustainable and prosperous Namibia and reaffirm the ministry’s commitment to supporting the MOU within its mandate and available resources.
