GOBABIS: President of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) McHenry Venaani announced plans to allocate significant resources to the agricultural sector if elected to power, aiming to combat food insecurity in Namibia. Venaani made this statement during a party rally held in Gobabis, located in the Omaheke Region, emphasizing the importance of local agricultural investment.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification projects an increase in the number of people facing food insecurity in Namibia, with estimates rising by 9 percent from 1.15 million to 1.26 million people between October 2024 and March 2025. Additionally, it is expected that 24 percent of children under five will experience stunting during this period.
Venaani, the official opposition leader, stated that his government would work to reduce Namibia’s dependence on imported food and address the escalating cost of living. He highlighted the expansion of access to affordable agricultural inputs and technol
ogies for smallholder farmers, particularly in communal areas most affected by food insecurity.
The PDM leader outlined plans to establish community-based food storage and distribution networks to minimize post-harvest losses and ensure that food reaches vulnerable populations. He emphasized that investing in local agriculture would not only enhance food security but also create jobs and stimulate the economy through local supply chains.
Venaani also discussed empowering farmer cooperatives and associations with subsidized funding to provide timely assistance with necessary machinery, equipment, and tools at affordable rates. This initiative aims to improve farmers’ livelihoods and increase their income through value addition.
Furthermore, the opposition leader proposed securing funds for cooperatives and associations to ensure the production of sufficient fodder throughout the year as a drought mitigation strategy. This measure would help the government manage resources more efficiently during drought per
iods while maintaining optimal livestock marketing prices at auctions. Venaani, a commercial farmer in the Omaheke Region, emphasized the significance of these initiatives for the agricultural sector’s sustainability.