Africa-Press – Namibia. OSHIKOTO regional governor Penda Ya Ndakolo officially launched the Ondera School and Community Project on Thursday, aimed at addressing food insecurity.
Ya Ndakolo stated that agriculture production, mainly based on crops and livestock, supports the livelihood of nearly 80% of the region’s population.
“This, in my view, places our mighty region in a good position of becoming a bread basket of this country and eventually championing Namibia’s dream of zero hunger and malnutrition,” he said.
Ya Ndakolo said hunger affects hundreds of millions of people around the globe, undermining economic growth, causing human suffering, stunting children’s growth and impacting human beings’ dignity.
According to him, climatic and edaphic factors such as drought and other socio-economic issues greatly constrain Namibia’s agricultural production and productivity. This exacerbated shocks to the production and value chain system of both commercial and communal farming sectors in the country.
“Of course, I am aware of water issues in the region where underground water is not fit for humans, crops and animals’ consumption. I am aware of the lack of resources due to various pressing factors and I am aware that our region is also prone to drought,” he added.
Ya Ndakolo urged the Ondera community to capitalize on the project and modernize food production by adopting a climate-resilient, cost-effective and technology-led approach, associated with high yield, to contribute to national food security.
Chairperson of the Oshikoto Regional Council Samuel Shivute said the global crisis triggered increased food and fuel prices making living costs very expensive. It further crippled the efforts of many governments around the world in fighting poverty and hunger.
He said the council and the World Food Programme signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2021, aimed at partnering and collaborating in the implementation of projects that are ideal to be executed through the Sustainable Food Systems Programme.
The partnership aims to address key driving factors of food and nutrition insecurity, the long-term trends of rising hunger, emergency preparedness and access to the market by local farmers and producers as well as the whole value chain, from food production to consumption in the region.
“It also aims to create livelihood opportunities and building resilience through the implementation of new solutions and strategies to transform food systems in the region,” Shivute said.
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