Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Government of Brazil has contributed US$120,000 to the United Nations (UN) World Food Programme (WFP) to support integrated community-based food systems programmes in Namibia.
WFP revealed that the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) has supported WFP Food Systems Programmes in Tsumkwe, Gobabis, Stampriet, Opuwo, and Olukula since 2020. The programmes are designed to improve productivity, combat hunger, and benefit more than 300 smallholder farmers.
“The objective of the food systems programmes is to contribute to Namibia’s Zero Hunger efforts while enhancing household food and nutrition security, transforming rural livelihoods through increased production, job creation, value-chain development, and fostering sustainable, catalytic food systems,” Tiwonge Machiwenyika, the Acting Country Director of WFP in Namibia, said.
According to the WFP, significant impacts have been observed in Tsumkwe, Gobabis, Stampriet, Opuwo, and Olukula as a direct result of the funding from the Federative Republic of Brazil. These include job creation and building local capacity, with over 100 smallholder farmers trained in financial management, farm management, good agricultural practices, value addition, processing, and market readiness skills.
The WFP added that these efforts have led to impressive outcomes at the Olukula Integrated Food Systems Project, where harvests exceeded five metric tonnes of vegetable produce and over 65,000 eggs were produced from poultry in 2024.
“The project has achieved a 50% increase in local vegetable production and received the Emerging Producer of the Year Award (1st runner-up) at the Annual National Agronomy and Horticulture Awards hosted by the Namibia Agronomic Board in September 2024,” the WFP said.
The WFP highlighted that the Government of Brazil’s continued support demonstrates the strong partnership among Brazil, WFP, and the Government of Namibia, as well as their steadfast commitment to helping Namibia achieve Zero Hunger.
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