Niël Terblanché
Namibia has embarked on a transformative journey for its agricultural sector with the launch of the Strategy for the Transformation of the Agri-Food Sector (STAS) and the signing of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) Compact.
With this launch, the country has set a transformative agenda to empower its agricultural sector, ensuring it contributes robustly to the nation’s economic future and the prosperity of its people.
The Compact signed in Windhoek on Wednesday marks a new era in Namibia’s agricultural development, with the aim of improving food security, creating job opportunities, and enhancing resilience against climate challenges.
Obeth Kandjoze, the director general of the National Planning Commission (NPC), who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Calle Carl Schlettwein, stressed the significance of this strategy as a comprehensive plan to address the complex issues facing Namibia’s agriculture.
He explained that STAS aligns with the CAADP goals, stemming from the African Union’s Maputo Declaration, which underscores agriculture as a primary driver of economic development and social prosperity.
During his address, Kandjoze reiterated Namibia’s commitment to the seven pillars of the Malabo Declaration, including goals like halving poverty by 2025 and boosting intra-African agricultural trade.
According to Kandjoze, STAS outlines four strategic pillars designed to create sustainable growth and resilience in the agri-food sector: production, productivity, and agri-business; food and nutrition security and human capacity; sustainable resource management; and an enabling environment and responsive institutions.
“Each pillar addresses distinct challenges, from increasing agricultural productivity to ensuring food security and promoting sustainable resource management,” he said.
Kandjoze added that the plan is also deeply rooted in inclusivity, with special emphasis on empowering women, youth, and marginalized communities in agricultural value chains.
The executive director of the agriculture ministry, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, expressed appreciation for the contributions of various stakeholders, including farmers’ unions, government agencies, and development partners.
She said that the strategy was refined through extensive consultations and collaboration, emphasizing that STAS would guide the agricultural chapter of Namibia’s forthcoming Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).
“STAS provides a clear roadmap for our agricultural sector to contribute effectively to Namibia’s Vision 2030 and the Africa we want as envisioned in Agenda 2063,” she said.
Acting resident coordinator, Samuel Kweku Ocran, reiterated the UN’s support for Namibia’s agricultural ambitions, citing agriculture’s role in tackling Namibia’s food security, youth unemployment, and climate resilience.
Ocran acknowledged the 70% of Namibians who rely on agriculture and reiterated the UN’s commitment to contributing resources and technical expertise to ensure STAS achieves its objectives. “The UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Namibia over the next four years, aligns closely with STAS’s priorities, further strengthening the collaboration between local and international partners,” he said.
The president of the Namibia National Farmers Union (NNFU), Adolf Muremi, speaking on behalf of all Namibian farmers’ unions, stressed the unprecedented unity and collaboration now present among stakeholders.
Muremi reiterated the need for a robust framework to address challenges such as drought resilience, market access, and infrastructure development.
“The strategy must move from paper to practice, with all stakeholders playing an active role,” he stressed, underscoring the need for continuous partnership between government and farmers to achieve STAS objectives,” he urged.
The signing of Namibia’s CAADP Compact represents a formal commitment to achieving the ambitious goals set forth in STAS, with stakeholders pledging to drive agricultural growth, boost food security, and enhance climate resilience.
The historic CAADP Compact was signed by high-level representatives from various sectors.
For the Namibian government, the signatories included the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform; Iipumbu Shiimi from the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises; Obeth Kandjoze from the Ministry of Economic Planning and the National Planning Commission; and Lucia Iipumbu from the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade.
Representing the African Union, Commissioner Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko endorsed the compact on behalf of the AU.
The UN resident coordinator for Namibia, Hopolang Phororo, added the UN’s commitment, while Tobias Gerster, the country director of GIZ Namibia, signed for the German international development agency.
