By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Erastus
A summary of the country’s maize production from the 2024/25 harvesting year has revealed that the grains’ (white maize, wheat, and pearl millet) self-sufficiency rate decreased to 8%.
According to the Namibia Agronomic Board’s (NAB) latest annual report, the grain self-sufficiency rate in the 2023/2024 financial year was at 21% (90,719 tons), decreasing to 8% (36,208 tons) in the 2024/2025 financial year.
According to the Board, this is due to drought.
During the reporting period (2024/25), the self-sufficiency rate for white maize was at 11%, which is a decrease from 28% during 2023-2024.
While pearl millet decreased from 77% in 2023/2024 to 12% in 2024/2025, and this was all due to the drought that affected dryland production, the Board noted.
The wheat self-sufficiency rate also decreased from 10% in 2023/2024 to 2% in 2024/2025 due to a reduction in hectares under irrigation.
For the period under review, the domestic floor price for white maize was 35% (N$2,021 per ton), and for wheat it was 7% (N$480 per ton) higher than the previous financial year, due to an increase in the prices of these commodities at the South African Future Exchange (SAFEX).
However, the domestic floor price for pearl millet was 13% (N$1,107 per ton) lower than the previous financial year, due to a decrease in input prices during the planting season.
The Board’s analysis revealed that the Karst production zone (maize triangle) remains the biggest grain production area in Namibia, contributing to the best-performing varieties of white maize, wheat, and pearl millet.
There are currently three (3) staple grain crops produced in Namibia, and these include white maize, wheat, and pearl millet (mahangu). These crops are currently gazette-controlled agronomic crops, in line with the Agronomic Industry Act 20 of 1992, implemented by the NAB.
Despite the marketing mechanisms put in place by the NAB to facilitate the marketing and production of staple grain crops, Namibia remains a net importer of these grains.
White maize is imported annually from South Africa, while wheat is mainly imported from the Russian Federation and South Africa, with pearl millet normally being imported from India.
The marketing period of locally-produced white maize grain normally starts from May each year, pearl millet grain from June, and wheat from October each year, lasting until such time that the locally-produced grains have been bought by processors or private buyers.
During the period under review, a total of 36,208 tons (8%) was purchased locally from farmers, while imports accounted for 92% (419,502 tons) of the total grain demand by millers and silo operators.
Overall, local production of grains marketed during the reporting period decreased by 60% (54,511 tons) when compared to the previous year.
According to the Board, the decrease in local grain production marketed is a result of the decrease in the local production of white maize, wheat, and pearl millet, caused by below-average rainfall experienced in the grain-producing areas.
erastus@thevillager.com.na
