Sostenus Wilherm
Namibia is targeting a shift in its agricultural sector, with the country aiming to produce 80% of its national food requirements by 2030 as the government moves to reduce dependence on imported food and position agriculture as a key driver of economic growth.
The target was highlighted by deputy minister of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform Ruthy Masake, speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare at the official opening of the 2026 Epukiro Business and Agricultural Expo in Omaheke Region on Friday.
Masake said the target, contained in the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), requires Namibia to move beyond subsistence production and develop agriculture into a commercially driven sector capable of creating jobs, wealth and sustainable livelihoods.
“NDP6 sets an important national aspiration: by 2030, Namibia should produce 80 percent of its national food requirements, compared to the current baseline of 60 percent,” she said.
She said achieving the target would require increased production and productivity, stronger agricultural value chains, improved market access and greater investment in agro-processing and value addition.
Masake said agriculture should no longer be viewed only as farming, arguing that the sector is directly linked to food security, employment, rural development, industrialisation and national economic resilience.
“Our farmers must increasingly be supported not only as producers, but also as agricultural entrepreneurs,” she said.
According to Masake, the greatest economic opportunity lies in retaining more value from agricultural products within Namibia.
She said livestock producers, for example, should be connected to transporters, abattoirs, processors, retailers and exporters, while horticultural producers should be supported to process, package, preserve and market their products.
“The real economic opportunity lies in what happens after production,” she said.
Masake also called for stronger small and medium enterprises around agriculture, saying rural economic transformation would depend on developing an ecosystem of businesses that support farmers and each other.
She said an agricultural producer creates opportunities for input suppliers, transporters, processors, packaging businesses, retailers and financial service providers.
The government, she added, must create an environment in which SMEs can access finance, markets, technology, infrastructure, skills and information.
She further identified women and young people as critical players in the transformation of agriculture, calling for increased economic participation and ownership among these groups.
She rejected the perception that agriculture is limited to traditional farming, saying modern agriculture offers opportunities in technology, irrigation, mechanisation, financial services, logistics, processing, marketing, digital platforms, research and innovation.
“Agriculture today involves technology, irrigation, mechanisation, financial services, logistics, processing, marketing, digital platforms, research and innovation,” she said.
The deputy minister, however, warned that increased agricultural production must take place alongside responsible management of Namibia’s scarce natural resources.
With climate variability posing a major challenge to farmers, she said the country must produce more with less water, improve soil health, strengthen rangeland management and adopt climate-smart technologies and renewable energy.
She pointed to community initiatives in Epukiro, including the Ovambanderu Traditional Authority Garden Project, Okumombonde Women Garden Project and Otjimangombe Women Garden Project, as examples of rural communities contributing to food security, household incomes, nutrition and empowerment.
Masake said such projects should be scaled up and connected to finance, technology, storage facilities and commercial markets.
She also called for practical partnerships between Government, farmers, financial institutions, SMEs, development partners, traditional authorities and the private sector.
“Let us identify bankable projects. Let us develop commercially viable agricultural enterprises. Let us strengthen farmer organisations. Let us promote local procurement. Let us invest in processing and value addition,” she said.
Masake stressed that economic transformation must extend beyond Windhoek and be visible in rural communities across the country.
She said the ultimate goal of NDP6 is to build a more productive, resilient, inclusive and prosperous Namibia, with agriculture positioned at the centre of that transformation.
“Agriculture is business. Agriculture is an industry. Agriculture is employment. Agriculture is food security. Agriculture is wealth creation,” she said.
The Epukiro Expo was held under the theme, “Repositioning Agriculture and SMEs: From Tradition to Drivers of Wealth and Sustainability.”
Masake said the event should result in more than discussions and exhibitions, urging participants to use it to establish partnerships, attract investment, create businesses and generate employment in rural communities.
