Agricultural shows instruments of development – minister

Minister of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi says agricultural and industrial shows are not just exhibitions, they are instruments of national development.

She said this in a speech given on her behalf by deputy agriculture minister Ruth Masake on Tuesday.

She was addressing the Farmers Demo Inter-Regional Agricultural and Industrial show held at Tallismanus, in the Otjombinde constituency of the Omaheke region.

The minister said grassroots agricultural transformation and community resilience efforts are timely and fully aligned with the recently launched sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), Namibia’s strategic roadmap for sustainable and inclusive development between 2025 and 2030.

She said NDP6 places agriculture at the centre of Namibia’s strategy to build a productive, resilient, and inclusive economy.

“It identifies food security, agricultural innovation, rural development, and climate adaptation as key levers for unlocking broad-based prosperity,” Zaamwani-Kamwi said.

She said the event, with its focus on livestock exhibitions, indigenous foods, local breeds, cultural displays, and knowledge exchange, is a practical demonstration of what NDP6 calls a “localised approach to development through community-driven innovation.”

The minister highlighted that the show embodied several critical pillars of NDP6 including pillar one on Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Growth.

“This is through promoting agri-enterprises, farmer cooperatives, and value chain linkages that support rural livelihoods and stimulate local economies,” she said.

Through pillar two of human capital and innovation the show empowered youth, women, and small-scale producers with a platform to share skills, technologies, and indigenous knowledge systems, she said.

Zaamwani-Kamwi said by promoting drought-resilient livestock breeds, climate-smart agricultural practices, and sustainable rangeland management the show was in line with pillar three for Environmental Sustainability and Resilience.

“Through pillar four for Social Transformation and Rural Inclusion, the event was strengthening the voice and visibility of rural communities in the national development agenda,” the minister added.

She said the ministry remains fully committed to realising the goals of NDP6 by scaling up support for smallholder farmers through training, inputs, veterinary services, and extension support.

“We will also expand the reach of livestock improvement programmes and disease surveillance; and facilitate access to land, finance, and markets, especially for women and youth in communal areas,” she said.

Zaamwani-Kamwi also said the ministry will strengthen collaboration with traditional authorities, regional councils, and the private sector in agri-development planning and implementation.

“We also support the show’s goal of bridging the rural-urban divide by showcasing the deep connection between farming, food, culture, and economic growth.

“This aligns with NDP6’s call to ‘leave no region behind’ in the pursuit of national progress,” she said.

Masake said prime minister Elijah Ngurare had accepted to be the patron of this initiative and his endorsement underscored the national significance of grassroots-driven agricultural development.

She told the farmers and organisers, they were doing more than growing crops or raising animals.

“You are feeding a nation, preserving culture, creating jobs, and building the foundation of a future-proof economy.

“Let us grow Namibia from the soil up, sustainably, inclusively, and with pride,” she said.

– email: matthew@namibian.com.na

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