By: Peneyambeko Jonas
Namibia has welcomed five new Chinese agricultural experts under the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)-China South-South Cooperation Programme.
The experts will work alongside local officials and farmers to share practical farming skills, while four experts who have completed their assignments return to China after nearly two years of service.
The handover ceremony was held in Windhoek on Friday and brought together officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, FAO, development partners and members of the diplomatic community.
Speaking at the event, FAO Namibia Assistant Representative and Officer-in-Charge Ferdinand Mwapopi said the programme has become an important tool for transferring agricultural knowledge and technology between developing countries.
“Namibia often faces dry weather and poor soils, making farming difficult. Through this programme, Chinese experts are helping our technicians and farmers improve production by sharing practical knowledge and skills,” Mwapopi said.
According to Mwapopi, eight Chinese experts were first deployed to Namibia in 2024.
Four are returning home after completing their work, while four others will remain in the country for another three months to ensure a smooth transition as the five new experts begin their assignments.
Since its launch, experts have trained government extension officers and farmers in areas including plant health, seed production, poultry farming, soil fertility, fisheries, aquaculture and vocational agricultural training.
More than 1,700 people have benefited from training and over 1,000 people have attended field demonstrations.
Acting Executive Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Petrus-Canisius Nangolo, said the partnership is helping strengthen Namibia’s agricultural sector through practical skills development.
“The project has already produced encouraging and measurable results. Training and field demonstrations have strengthened the capacity of agricultural extension officers and farmers,” Nangolo said.
The current phase of the project is funded through a US$1.74 million agreement between China and FAO.
It follows an earlier phase implemented between 2015 and 2017, which introduced new crop varieties, farming technologies and technical support for Namibia’s agricultural sector.
The cooperation comes at a time when Namibia is seeking to improve food security, reduce imports and build resilience against recurring droughts and climate change.
Recent training programmes under the initiative have equipped farmers with skills in compost production, water conservation, horticulture and sustainable farming methods suited to Namibia’s dry conditions.
The programme also supports President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s call for greater agricultural production and stronger cooperation with China. During her recent State Visit to Beijing, Namibia and China agreed to deepen cooperation in agriculture alongside energy, infrastructure and technology as part of broader efforts to create jobs and grow the economy.
As the new team of experts begins work across different regions, both the Namibian government and FAO say the focus remains on helping farmers increase production, strengthen food security and build a more sustainable agricultural sector for the future.
