Africa-Press – Namibia. The Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) has committed N$250 million over the next five years to drive its Crop Value Chain Development Strategy (2025–2030). The plan, anchored on four pillars – sector development, operational excellence, regulatory strength, and research and innovation – places agro-processing at the heart of Namibia’s agricultural growth.
Hubertus Hamm, Chairperson of the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB), revealed the plan yesterday during the National Agronomy and Horticulture Awards (NAHA) 2025 held at the Zambezi Waterfront, as Namibia honoured its leading farmers, processors, and agribusiness innovators came together to honour their achievements.
Currently, he said Namibia produces N$4 billion worth of processed crop products annually, mainly grains, yet imports more than N$5 billion in sugar, juices, tomato products, frozen fruits and vegetables, and edible oils.
Hamm highlighted this as “not a weakness, but an opportunity” to reduce imports, grow exports, and create thousands of jobs.
Addressing barriers to growth
The NAB chairperson called for stronger partnerships between government, investors, farmers, and traders to unlock the sector’s potential. He urged the government to urgently address high electricity tariffs and VAT on fruits, vegetables, inputs, equipment, and machinery, which raise production costs and weaken competitiveness.
“With 800,000 hectares of arable land and high-value crops like maize, millet, wheat, groundnuts, citrus, mango, grapes, blueberries, onions, and tomatoes, Namibia has the potential to be a regional agro-processing hub,” Hamm said.
The event brought together government officials, traditional leaders, academics, development partners, and industry stakeholders. Winners were recognised for their outstanding contributions to food security, innovation, and value chain development.
“As we celebrate today’s winners, we recognise that every award is not just a personal triumph – it is a step toward food security, economic growth, and national pride,” Hamm said, congratulating the honourees.
Hamm described the awards as more than a recognition of excellence – a reflection of the nation’s agricultural progress and a rallying call for transformation.
“This year’s theme, ‘Unlocking the Potential of the Crop Sector through Agro-processing Innovation’, reminds us that the future of Namibian agriculture lies not only in production but in value addition, job creation, and shared prosperity,” Hamm declared.
Hamm emphasised the need to turn “imports into exports, potential into prosperity, and today’s efforts into tomorrow’s legacy.”
The 2025 NAHA ceremony reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to agricultural transformation, with agro-processing standing tall as the next frontier of growth.
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