Niël Terblanché
Namibia’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the effects of the severe drought conditions received a significant boost as India announced its commitment to assist with grain and other food items.
The outgoing High Commissioner of India, Mandarapu Subbarayudu, announced the provision of drought aid during a farewell courtesy call on President Nangolo Mbumba at State House earlier this week.
Subbarayudu indicated that India’s assistance might also extend to training locals in drought-resilient agricultural practices, which could provide a sustainable solution to the recurrent issue of drought in Namibia.
This pledge from India follows an appeal by the Namibian government to the international community and its development partners to help address the shortfall in its drought relief efforts.
Namibia has been proactive in seeking international support to ensure the well-being of its citizens during these challenging times and Indian support will form part of Namibia’s broader drought relief programme.
In addition to the current aid, India has a history of supporting Namibia during times of need.
In 2019, India provided 1 000 metric tonnes of cereal to assist drought-stricken households in Namibia.
More recently, the High Commission of India in collaboration with Namibia’s Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, organised a joint conference on millet production.
This event, addressed by experts from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics, explored the potential of introducing various types of millet to Namibia and supporting local farmers in increasing productivity.
The ongoing support from India reinforces the strong bilateral relations between the two countries.
Subbarayudu said that it also aligns with broader efforts to enhance agricultural resilience in Namibia, ensuring that the nation can better withstand future climatic challenges.
He said that India’s engagement with Namibia is multifaceted, involving not only immediate relief efforts but also long-term developmental assistance.
In the past, the Indian High Commission in Windhoek has been active in promoting educational opportunities through scholarships and fostering economic and commercial ties between the two nations.
Subbarayudu said that the collaborative efforts with Namibia highlight the importance of international partnerships in addressing environmental and humanitarian challenges.
