Bright prospects for agriculture sector

WINDHOEK – Namibia’s agriculture sector has a bright prospect to make the most significant contribution to the country’s economic growth and job creation despite fragile soils and limited water resources.

A recent paper presented by the Director General of National Planning Commission, Helmut Angula, with the theme ‘Investment in Agriculture’ noted that despite these resources constraints, Government has set itself the following goals: to increase and sustain agricultural productivity, improve real income and levels of food security, create employment, provide potable water for all, and increase value adding to national agricultural output. Said Angula: “To achieve these goals, agricultural diversification, self-help and commercialisation are being encouraged.Excellent co-operation between the private sector and Government has led to huge capital investments, value adding of Namibian produce.”Investment opportunities exist in value-added local processing of livestock, as well as leather products.There is also scope for the processing of pelts and wool from karakul sheep, breeding angora goats and rabbits for mohair and breeding reptiles for skins, meat and venom for the pharmaceutical sub-sector.There are also investment opportunities in other high-value crops, such as cotton, dates cucumbers, chillies, green peppers and tomatoes, and plants such devil’s claw and jojoba for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.There is great potential for fruit and vegetable processing, including canning, blanching and freezing, juices and concentrates.Irrigation production along the Orange River for export includes grapes, dates, mangoes, melons, lucerne and vegetables such as tomatoes, onions and potatoes.”The area has a comparative advantage in climate, which induces early maturity of crops.Constraint is in the area of skills and appropriate financing at all levels.The water issue is another constraint,” he explained.The establishment of the Aussenkehr Grape Project has projected that Namibia has huge potential to become a world leader in the production and export of winter table grapes.Aussenkehr exports about 90 per cent of its grapes to the EU markets.Cotton is presently produced by a small number of commercial and communal farmers who yield approximately 5 000 tones with 99 per cent of this coming from the large-scale sector.Government has targeted a production of 8 000 tones over 7 300 hectares in 2001/2002 planting season, 11 500 tones over 10 500 hectares in the 2002/2003 season and 15 000 tones of seed cotton over 13 700 hectares in 2003/2004 season.Angula explained that Government would continue its efforts to promote high-value crops in order to improve the income of small-scale farmers and to continue to support investors interested in the agriculture sector by creating a favourable policy environment and encouraging free trade.Namibia is a livestock-producing country and this farming sector makes the largest contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).The single largest contributor to the agriculture GDP and export is beef with a total of 11 643 tonnes exported to the EU and 20 782 tones exported to South Africa markets.”Namibia also continues to maintain its position as the largest exporter of small stock in South Africa, having marketed 1 206 132 head of small stock in the previous year.One of the projects that were established to improve livestock herds in rural areas is the Northern Livestock Development Programme.The Meat Board of Namibia has a project with the purpose of improving the cattle herd in communal areas through the provision of bulls to communal farmers.The Northern Regions Extension and Research Support Programme is also actively involved in assisting communal farmers in the improvement of livestock in communal areas.Ostrich slaughtering and meat processing facilities have been built in Keetmanshoop.According to the director general, there is a need for diversification of markets and assisting the communal farmers to grow and participate in the business.Another promising project with potential in addressing the unemployment situation in Namibia is the Green Scheme launched by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry.-NampaSaid Angula: “To achieve these goals, agricultural diversification, self-help and commercialisation are being encouraged.Excellent co-operation between the private sector and Government has led to huge capital investments, value adding of Namibian produce.”Investment opportunities exist in value-added local processing of livestock, as well as leather products.There is also scope for the processing of pelts and wool from karakul sheep, breeding angora goats and rabbits for mohair and breeding reptiles for skins, meat and venom for the pharmaceutical sub-sector.There are also investment opportunities in other high-value crops, such as cotton, dates cucumbers, chillies, green peppers and tomatoes, and plants such devil’s claw and jojoba for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.There is great potential for fruit and vegetable processing, including canning, blanching and freezing, juices and concentrates.Irrigation production along the Orange River for export includes grapes, dates, mangoes, melons, lucerne and vegetables such as tomatoes, onions and potatoes.”The area has a comparative advantage in climate, which induces early maturity of crops.Constraint is in the area of skills and appropriate financing at all levels.The water issue is another constraint,” he explained.The establishment of the Aussenkehr Grape Project has projected that Namibia has huge potential to become a world leader in the production and export of winter table grapes.Aussenkehr exports about 90 per cent of its grapes to the EU markets.Cotton is presently produced by a small number of commercial and communal farmers who yield approximately 5 000 tones with 99 per cent of this coming from the large-scale sector.Government has targeted a production of 8 000 tones over 7 300 hectares in 2001/2002 planting season, 11 500 tones over 10 500 hectares in the 2002/2003 season and 15 000 tones of seed cotton over 13 700 hectares in 2003/2004 season.Angula explained that Government would continue its efforts to promote high-value crops in order to improve the income of small-scale farmers and to continue to support investors interested in the agriculture sector by creating a favourable policy environment and encouraging free trade.Namibia is a livestock-producing country and this farming sector makes the largest contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).The single largest contributor to the agriculture GDP and export is beef with a total of 11 643 tonnes exported to the EU and 20 782 tones exported to South Africa markets.”Namibia also continues to maintain its position as the largest exporter of small stock in South Africa, having marketed 1 206 132 head of small stock in the previous year.One of the projects that were established to improve livestock herds in rural areas is the Northern Livestock Development Programme.The Meat Board of Namibia has a project with the purpose of improving the cattle herd in communal areas through the provision of bulls to communal farmers.The Northern Regions Extension and Research Support Programme is also actively involved in assisting communal farmers in the improvement of livestock in communal areas.Ostrich slaughtering and meat processing facilities have been built in Keetmanshoop.According to the director general, there is a need for diversification of markets and assisting the communal farmers to grow and participate in the business.Another promising project with potential in addressing the unemployment situation in Namibia is the Green Scheme launched by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry.-Nampa