The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Land Reform has warned that the continued underutilisation of farmland allocated under government agricultural schemes is undermining Namibia’s food security and economic resilience.
Speaking to beneficiaries of the Orange River Irrigation Project, Deputy Minister Ruthy Masake said too many government-supported farming plots remain idle despite significant public investment in irrigation infrastructure, water supply and agricultural support programmes.
She warned that Namibia cannot continue relying on imported food, particularly as global crises similar to the COVID-19 pandemic could disrupt international supply chains.
“Let everybody produce food, even if it is only on a small portion of land in their yard. Where are we going to go if we are hit by another COVID-19-type crisis and all the borders are closed? We cannot always rely on food from outside Namibia. We need to feed ourselves,” Masake said.
She questioned why many beneficiaries have failed to utilise land allocated to them despite government providing access to irrigation infrastructure, water, subsidised inputs and technical support.
“The water is there, the pipelines are there, and all the necessary infrastructure is available. You should all be millionaires by now. Yet there is very little to show for it. There are a few individuals who are taking advantage of this opportunity, but many others are not,” she said.
Masake urged beneficiaries to expand beyond primary production by investing in value addition, including drying and canning vegetables, producing soups and sauces, and developing other processed agricultural products to improve profitability.
She said government farming schemes are intended to equip beneficiaries with agricultural skills while enabling them to build financially sustainable farming businesses before graduating to independently owned commercial operations, creating opportunities for new participants.
The Deputy Minister also urged beneficiaries to prepare their land for the arrival of vineyard planting material expected later this year.
She called on farmers to take full advantage of the opportunities provided through government programmes and contribute to strengthening household incomes, increasing domestic food production and improving Namibia’s long-term food security.
