Namibia’s agricultural sector is expected to see a gradual recovery this year, driven by improved rainfall and ongoing efforts to rebuild livestock herds.
According to the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) Agricultural Forecast released on 28 January, the sector is likely to benefit from a normal to above-normal rainfall forecast for the 2025/26 season.
NAU president Thinus Pretorius says the cattle sector, which has been under pressure due to three consecutive dry years, is expected to see a modest recovery in marketing volumes, potentially growing by 20% to 30% in 2026.
He says this in a press statement released last week.
“However, cattle prices are likely to remain elevated due to supply constraints.
The sheep sector, which has also faced significant challenges, is expected to see improved slaughter availability, with supply constraints easing more quickly than in the cattle sector,” he says.
Pretorius says the poultry sector continues t expand rapidly, driven by growing private-sector investment and strengthened regulatory engagement.
He says production is expected to maintain its upward trajectory, supported by expanding processing capacity and improved biosecurity planning.
“Horticulture also shows structural growth, with formal market share expected to increase due to rising citrus and potato output. Namibia’s grain sector remains heavily dependent on imports, but local supply is expected to improve modestly in 2026, supported by normal to above-normal rainfall. Grain prices are forecast to remain stable,” Pretorius says.
He says the livestock sector faces several challenges, including the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) situation, feed cost volatility, and avian flu risks in neighbouring countries.
“However, opportunities exist for domestic crop production development, particularly in the poultry and horticulture sectors.
Overall, Namibia’s agricultural sector is poised for modest growth in 2026, driven by improved rainfall and ongoing efforts to rebuild livestock herds,” Pretorius says.
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