Massive agri project launched

A N$1.4-billion agriculture project will be implemented across the country to enhance agricultural productivity and reduce the annual importation of staple cereal crops. The agriculture ministry's permanent secretary Percy Misika said that the project also aims to facilitate job creation and enhance household income, which will improve the lives of rural people.Misika made these remarks at the Namibia Agricultural Mechanisation and Seed System Improvement Project (NAMSIP): Kunene Regional Inception Workshop.According to him, one of the key challenges affecting food security in Namibia is the inability of rural producers to timely access agricultural inputs such as seed, farm machinery and equipment that are required for effective land preparation, planting, weeding and harvesting. He said this challenge negatively affects agricultural production, post-harvest handling and marketing. Misika said the agricultural mechanisation component of the project will therefore enable farmers to complete farming operations in a timely manner, especially in the crop-producing regions where rain-fed farming systems are practiced.“In addition, it will also help increase productivity and reduce the cost of cultivation. This project is also vital in ensuring timely availability and accessibility of quality certified seed by farmers.”The total budget requirement of NAMSIP amounts to more than N$1.418 billion. Government, through the finance ministry, negotiated with and secured a loan of N$1 billion from the African Development Bank (AfDB) representing 70.5% of the total project cost. Misika said government committed to contribute an amount of N$361 640 700 which represents 25.5% of the project amount. He said this means that beneficiaries will have to contribute an amount N$56 627 700 which represents 4% of the project cost. “The contribution by beneficiaries is to ensure sustainability of the project.” A mechanism on the actual contributions and how such contributions will be collected from the beneficiaries was presented during the course of the workshop. According to Misika, the sub-component of agricultural mechanisation in the project will be implemented in all 14 regions in order to ensure that the project benefits all intended beneficiaries, countrywide. In addition, the sub-component of seed system improvement in the project will be implemented across seven crop growing regions of the country namely the Zambezi, Kavango East, Kavango West, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Oshana and Omusati regions. “I want to emphasise the significance of organised agriculture. Organised agriculture gives farmers greater control over the supply chain, helps them cut costs on key inputs through economies of scale and allows them to share innovations that can boost output and productivity.”He said if farmers are organised, it is easier to procure production inputs at more favourable and negotiated prices, it is easier to negotiate better access to markets, and even to lobby for assistance such as credit when farming or producing as a group with a view to achieving a common goal. “I therefore urge all of us to encourage our farmers to organise themselves into co-operatives, associations or groups in order for them to benefit from various interventions and initiatives within the agriculture sector.” Misika also urged representatives of various entities present at the workshop to inform all farmers about the project. “Let us ensure that farmers are prepared and put all the necessary measures in place to enable them to participate in the project and to ensure that what will be allocated to regions remains in the regions. I am emphasising this point because if we do not get sufficient numbers of applicants who meet the set requirements within a specified period, the goods allocated to a region will be reallocated to other regions where they will be put to use.” He also encouraged the youth to take make use of the project as an opportunity to seriously engage in agricultural activities and contribute to poverty reduction at household and national level.

Massive agri project launched

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-31

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Massive agri project launched

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-31

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