Agri-budget for 2026/27 set to N$1.83 billion

According to Namibia's 2025/26 to 2028/29 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, the budget for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform (MAFWLR) under Vote 37 is set to decrease by 27.6%, from N$2.52 billion in 2025/26 to N$1.83 billion in 2026/27.

Both broad budget categories will see reductions. Operational expenditure – which covers salaries and day-to-day running costs – is expected to decrease by 28%, from N$2.04 billion to N$1.47 billion. Development expenditure – which funds vehicles, equipment and infrastructure – will decrease by 26%, from N$478 million to N$352.9 million.

The steepest cut falls on Agriculture Production and Extension Services, which is set to decrease by 66%, from N$535 million to N$183 million. Information Technology follows with a 43% decrease, from N$32.3 million to N$18.6 million, while Agriculture Research, Development and Vocational Training decreases by 31%, from N$184 million to N$127 million. Agriculture Engineering is set to decrease by 31%, from N$203 million to N$140 million.

Not all divisions face cuts. Planning and Business Development is set to increase by 39%, from N$71.1 million to N$98.6 million, while Centralised Registration increases by 18.8%, from N$31.5 million to N$37.5 million.

The two largest divisions – Veterinary Services and Administration – see more modest decreases of 9.5% and 11.2%, respectively.