Govt pushes agri-food sector transformation

Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani has declared that Namibia can no longer afford years of planning without action, urging development partners to support government's strategy to transform the country's agri-food sector.

Addressing the Strategy for the Transformation of the Agri-Food Sector (STAS) Development Partner networking meeting in Windhoek on Monday, Zaamwani said the strategy is a shift from planning to implementation and requires a united effort from government, the private sector, development partners and farmers.

"We must make sure that we implement it and that we don't have to reinvent the wheel. I do not believe in reinventing the wheel," she said.

"When work has already been done and the foundation is solid, we must build on it. We simply do not have enough time to start over."

Zaamwani said STAS will provide a blueprint for coordinated action, strategic investment and long-term impact across Namibia's agricultural sector.

"The government remains committed to transforming our agricultural sector. The president has made it very clear that this is the number one priority," she said.

She stressed that government alone cannot deliver the transformation envisioned under the strategy.

"Every stakeholder – commercial farmers, communal farmers, smallholder producers, agribusinesses, financial institutions, civil society, development partners and academia – is a co-creator and co-implementer of this strategy."

Blueprint

STAS will institutionalise cooperation between the public and non-state sectors, ensuring that all stakeholders work towards a single national vision for agricultural development.

Drawing on her experience leading Namdeb for more than a decade, Zaamwani said strong partnerships are essential to achieving meaningful results.

"I know the value that partnerships can create when they are properly coordinated, when there is cooperation, and when there is unity of purpose among all partners. That is why I am so passionate about this task," she said.

She said the strategy extends beyond crop and livestock production to encompass fisheries, water management, renewable energy and land reform, arguing that these sectors must work together to build a resilient food system.

"We must harness the opportunities presented by renewable energy to enhance agricultural productivity. We must lower production costs and build a resilient food system across the entire value chain," Zaamwani said.

The minister directly appealed to international development partners to prioritise women and young people when deciding where to channel financial and technical support.

"We have many capable women farmers and young people who are willing to remain in agriculture. The only things constraining them are access to technology, technical expertise and resources," she said.

"I therefore call upon our development partners to align your support with the priorities of this strategy, with a strong focus on women and young people."

Act now

Zaamwani also challenged officials to move beyond endless planning and focus on implementation, saying farmers cannot afford bureaucratic delays.

"As far as we know, farmers have only a limited window of opportunity during the production season. They look at the sky and decide whether to plough or plant. They look at their livestock and decide how to improve productivity. That is the same spirit we need to embrace as we implement this strategy," she said.

nikanor@nmh-hub.com.na