‘Every communal farmer must become a commercial farmer’

"Our work will be complete when every farmer is a commercial farmer and every commercial farmer competes internationally." This is according to the new agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform minister, Dr Mac Albert Hengari, who stressed yesterday that the sectors under the ministry’s mandate together form the backbone of the Namibian economy, driving not only food security but also job creation, poverty alleviation and rural development. "It is well known that more than 70% of our population directly or indirectly depends on the agricultural sector for their livelihood and creates jobs for unskilled and semi-skilled workers," said Hengari. He highlighted ten key priorities to ensure the sustainable use of the country’s resources on land and at sea and to improve the well-being of Namibians.





Accelerating agricultural production


Hengari believes agricultural production must be accelerated, and the expansion of irrigation systems is of critical importance. "It is essential that we expand new and existing green schemes and ensure that they are placed under full production to improve national food production for food security. Both small, medium and large-scale farmers must be supported," he said. "We must implement comprehensive policies and strategies aimed at improving agricultural productivity, food security and technical capacity for both commercial and subsistence farmers. This, along with the provision of veterinary and plant health services, will lay a strong foundation," the minister added.





Agro-industries


Hengari emphasised the development of agro-industries that will boost the economies in all 14 regions, creating a wide range of job opportunities from processing to marketing and logistics. "In the fisheries and marine resources sector, I want to highlight the importance of initiatives that should improve value addition across all total allowable catches for regulated species. We can no longer think of our fish only as raw commodities for export; we must position ourselves to add value through processing, packaging, and innovative product offerings."





Blue economy


The minister said the 'Blue Economy' must be promoted through the integrated development of marine resources, which must also be protected. He referred to fishing vessels in Namibian waters that do not belong to Namibians. Regarding the allocation of fishing quotas, he said it must promote local participation in the fisheries sector, and its implementation will be carried out transparently.





Water infrastructure


Concerning the development of water supply infrastructure, all Namibians must have access to drinking water, he said. For Hengari, the priorities are the construction of the second desalination plant in the Erongo Region, as well as the development and optimal utilization of the major water resources in the Ohangwena aquifer and the Neckartal Dam. "Furthermore, we must ensure that water is available for livestock, settlements and industrial development, which is essential to sustain communities and drive economic progress."





Land reform


Hengari said the land reform programme must be expedited to ensure that land is allocated fairly through resettlement and used productively. "My approach is not just to acquire land and resettle people but to focus on the use of land. It is important to provide support to resettled farmers to improve their production capacity." He noted that the implementation of the recommendations from the second land conference must also be accelerated, along with the promulgation of the land bill to ensure that resettled farmers and tenants, especially those in communal areas, have access to financing opportunities. Hengari added that acquiring commercial farming land, especially those close to urban areas, is essential to extend local government boundaries within the scope of the law.


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