Africa-Press – Namibia. THE minister of agriculture, water and land reform, Calle Schlettwein, has called for more intensified private and public investment in irrigation agriculture if the country is to be self-sufficient in food security.
He also called for a fully diversified and integrated agricultural sector.
Schlettwein was speaking in the National Assembly recently, to motivate for the approval of the N$1,2 billion budget proposal for agriculture and land reform during the 2022/2023 financial year.
He pointed out that agriculture is a key contributor to inclusive growth, a source of food and nutrition security, and an anchor for future prosperity for Namibia.
“The sector directly or indirectly supports the livelihoods of about 70% of the country’s population,” he said.
Schlettwein said agriculture’s contribution to the gross domestic product increased on average to 6,7% over the past two years, from 4,2% in 2019, a share which could potentially rise through private and public investments going forward.
“Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the sector recorded positive growth over the past two years thanks to better rains, and offering opportunity for building back better post Covid-19. As such, crop production was the largest contributor at a 4,6% growth rate,” he said.
Schlettwein said sectoral employment stands at an estimated 23% of total employment as at the last count in 2018, underscoring the job intensity and high multiplier effects as the second highest employer after the government.
“We have achieved near food self-sufficiency in some crop products, but significant investments are required to shore up food self-sufficiency for staple products such as maize, pearl millet and wheat,” he said.
“The Covid-19 supply chain disruptions and the global repercussions from the geo-political outbreak of war in Europe have underscored the importance of achieving food self-sufficiency and crop diversification as critical elements of national food security objectives,” he added.
Schlettwein said the ministry is front-loading strategic policy interventions for agriculture, which include the reform to repurpose the operation of green schemes to attract more private capital investment and operational efficiency through a competitive bidding process, while ensuring local participation.
“The annual veterinary vaccination campaigns will be stepped up in high risk and protection zones as preventative deterrents for the outbreak of animal diseases to cushion Namibia’s continued access to the niche market.
“The roll-out of the agricultural mechanisation and seed improvement programme will be ramped up to enhance the impact of the programme in the various regions,” he said, adding that a National Agricultural Investment Plan will be formulated as a consolidated strategy for investment promotion in the sector.
Schlettwein said the ministry is engaged with the implementation of the resolutions from the Second National Land Conference, with the drafting of the land bill incorporating the resolutions at an advanced stage.
“The bill is expected to be tabled this year,” he said.
He added that in the meantime, purchasing of farms for resettlement will continue to the extent that resources allow, alongside the provision of training and other support activities to newly resettled farmers.
“Rehabilitation of resettlement farms has been scaled up and the repair and upgrading of farm infrastructure, especially water infrastructure, has been prioritised,” he said.
Schlettwein added that several key projects aimed at growing the economy and improving food security will be carried out this financial year.
These include the continued implementation of the horticulture support and value chain development scheme, the implementation of the dry land crop production programme in all 10 crop growing regions, and the implementation of the poultry value chain development scheme.
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