The African Development Bank (AfDB) says the Namibia Agricultural Mechanisation and Seed Improvement Project has created 14,629 temporary seasonal jobs through seed multiplication and mechanisation activities implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform.
According to an AfDB report, 1,791 seasonal workers were employed between April and September 2025 in activities including weeding, harvesting, seed processing and transportation.
The report said the project has supported the production of 820.73 tonnes of certified seed since inception, with 730 active seed growers participating out of 748 registered growers.
“A total of 22,578 crop farmers benefited from certified seed distribution, including 8,650 male and 13,928 female farmers, reflecting expanded access to improved agricultural inputs,” the report noted.
During the 2024/25 cropping season, 317.73 tonnes of raw seed were transported for processing, resulting in the production of 70.1 tonnes of certified seed, of which 23 tonnes had been packaged by September 2025.
Seed production activities covered 157.1 hectares for foundation seed and 103 hectares for certified seed across research stations at MADI, Kalimbeza, Bagani, Mannheim, Omahenene and Sikondo.
The AfDB said mechanisation support under the project included the training of 37 farmer machinery operators, while subsidised ploughing services were provided to 91 farmers covering 187.6 hectares.
Capacity-building initiatives also reached 129 staff members and 497 farmers through training focused on agricultural operations, machinery use, seed certification and other technical areas.
According to the AfDB, the project is aimed at improving agricultural productivity, supporting job creation and increasing household incomes, while reducing Namibia’s dependence on imported staple crops.
