By: Peneyambeko Jonas
While Namibia continues to encourage youth participation in agriculture and seeks investment in the sector, farmers and economists say the country’s biggest challenge is not production but access to reliable markets.
Across the country, farmers are producing crops and livestock, yet a significant number struggle to sell their products consistently and profitably.
As a result, questions are being raised about whether enough attention is being paid when it comes to strengthening agricultural value chains before expanding production.
Speaking to The Villager, local farmer, Frans Amutenya, said market access should be treated as a priority if the agricultural sector is to contribute meaningfully to economic growth and employment.
“From what I’ve experienced, we grow quality produce and get national recognition, but without processing, storage and reliable buyers, good harvests do not really translate into income,” said Amutenya.
“A lot of value gets lost between the field and the shelf. Therefore, bringing in new investors without fixing the current pipeline just means more supply chasing the same weak market,” he said.
Amutenya argued that government and industry stakeholders should focus on strengthening agricultural value chains through storage facilities, processing plants, transport networks and guaranteed purchasing arrangements.
“The government should strengthen value chains and market access through off-take agreements, storage, processing, transport and links to programmes such as the Namibia Agronomic Board’s Fruit Value Chain Development Scheme. New investors will then have something solid to build on,” he said.
Economist Nghiinomenwa-Vali Erastus believes that Namibia already has the institutions capable of creating a market for local agricultural products but the coordination remains limited.
Speaking to The Villager, Erastus said schools with hostel facilities could become an important market for local farmers if procurement systems were structured to support domestic producers.
“This country has many facilities that use agricultural products every day. If farmers in the Omusati Region could work together with hostes, then those schools become buyers and consumers. That would reduce the risk of produce going to waste because there are no customers,” he said.
Erastus questioned why some locally produced agricultural products are not more visible within public institutions while they consume the same products.
“I was once in a school hostel where we regularly ate chicken and eggs, but I always wanted to know where those products came from.
Why don’t hostels consume more locally produced potatoes, butternuts, cabbages and carrots? These products are produced by Namibian farmers. There should be stronger linkages between producers and public institutions,” he said.
Farmer Jesaya Shipingana also called for greater collaboration among government ministries, arguing that agricultural development cannot be achieved by a single institution acting alone.
“The Ministry of Agriculture cannot make this happen alone. It requires ministries and public institutions to work together and create clear systems on who buys and who sells,” said Shipingana.
According to stakeholders, Namibia’s farmers generally possess the skills and knowledge required to produce food. However, challenges related to storage, transportation, processing and market access continue to limit profitability and expansion.
They argue that while successful farmers often receive public attention, many smaller producers remain excluded from opportunities, support programmes and market networks.
As Namibia continues to pursue agricultural investment and food security goals, industry participants say equal attention should be given to developing reliable markets.
Without stronger connections between producers and buyers, increased production alone may not translate into improved incomes for farmers or greater economic benefits for the country.
penny@eaglefm.com.na
