Windhoek: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has allocated over N.dollars 28 million to boost food security, enhance production and productivity, and build climate resilience among small-scale producers.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the ministry's spokesperson Simon Nghipandulwa, who is on an oversight tour of programmes run under the ministry, highlighted that these initiatives encompass key value chains including horticulture, poultry, dairy, and small stock development, with implementation spanning all 14 regions of Namibia.
The Horticulture Support and Value Chain Development Programme aims to assist approximately 1,000 small-scale producers with substantial subsidies on essential inputs. Under this programme, farmers can benefit from a 50 per cent subsidy on seeds, 60 per cent on fertilisers, 50 per cent on pesticides and herbicides, and 65 per cent on irrigation materials and shade nets.
Nghipandulwa explained that the programme additionally provides subsidised tillage services at N.dollars 500 per hectare for land preparation. To qualify, beneficiaries must be Namibian citizens with verified production capabilities, reliable water sources, and concrete production and marketing plans.
The Poultry Value Chain Development Scheme, with a budget of N.dollars 5.04 million, targets 2,000 small-scale poultry producers nationwide, offering a 60 per cent subsidy on production stock, 50 per cent on veterinary medicines and feeds, and 65 per cent on equipment, including incubators, housing materials, and processing equipment.
He stated that the programme includes a significant capacity-building component, with N.dollars 840,000 allocated specifically for training producers on poultry production and marketing.
Further, the Dairy Value Chain Development Scheme, which is being piloted in the five regions of Otjozondjupa, Omaheke, Hardap, Oshikoto, and Zambezi, focuses on 150 existing dairy producers to develop a modern, self-sustaining dairy industry. The programme provides a 60 per cent subsidy on production stock, 50 per cent on veterinary medicines and feeds, and 65 per cent on machinery, equipment, and construction materials.
Nghipandulwa noted that the maximum subsidy per beneficiary is N.dollars 200,000 for dairy cattle producers and N.dollars 100,000 for dairy goat producers. Complementing these initiatives, he mentioned the Small Stock Distribution and Development programme continues its revolving project that provides quality core breeding flocks to vulnerable households, with each beneficiary receiving 20 ewes and one ram to establish a sustainable means of income generation.