The official opposition party in Parliament has expressed concern over the current status of the N$141-million Uvhungu Vungu dairy farm in the Kavango East Region, calling for the urgent need for its operationalisation.
The leader of the Popular Democratic Movement, McHenry Venaani, penned an open letter to the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, highlighting the dairy farm’s potential in addressing food security and unemployment challenges faced by Namibia after being dormant for 11 years.
In the letter, Venaani voiced his disappointment over the inactivity of the dairy farm, which he says not only hampers potential economic growth but also exacerbates the unemployment crisis, particularly among the youth.
“By revitalising the Uvhungu Vungu dairy farm Namibia could enhance agricultural production and create a stable foundation for future generations. A novel strategy is needed in the agricultural sector, emphasising the importance of collaboration between macroeconomic, financial, and agricultural policymakers and sub-sector intermediaries to facilitate knowledge exchange, financing, marketing, risk management, and technical know-how,” Venaani argued.
He emphasised the pivotal role of the dairy industry in creating job opportunities and promoting sustainable development, both of which are essential for the nation’s progress.
“The Namibian dairy sector is currently struggling to survive, with declining production and a price-cost squeeze forcing producers to exit the industry. Recent reports indicate a significant drop in raw milk production from 21.8 million litres in 2019 to 17.2 million litres, reflecting a 21.1% decline in volumes,” he said.
As a result, he stressed the paramount importance of operationalising the dormant Uvhungu Vungu dairy farm to address pressing food security challenges.
This comes as Namibia ranks 78th out of 116 countries in the 2022 Global Hunger Index, suffering from a serious level of hunger.
“The country heavily relies on food imports, with malnutrition becoming a growing concern, affecting 24% of children under the age of five,” Venaani said.
Highlighting the need for urgent action, Venaani underscored that after 33 years of independence, it is unacceptable to implore the government to mechanise the agricultural sector.
He reminded Minister Schlettwein of the Ministry’s mandate to ensure agricultural productivity and food security, pointing out that the agriculture sector remains the lowest contributor to Namibia’s GDP despite being the highest employer of labour.
He also urged the government to support small-scale farmers, particularly the youth, through agricultural training and improved access to farming inputs.
Venaani emphasised that further investment in the sector, particularly in the Kavango East and West regions, is necessary to address food insecurity, hunger, malnutrition, and the unemployment crisis comprehensively.
Schlettwein is set to respond to the matter in the National Assembly soon.
