Otjiwarongo: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform officially transferred its agriculture extension and engineering services to the 14 regional councils on Wednesday. This move is part of the government's ongoing decentralisation programme.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Inge Zaamwani emphasized the goal of ensuring efficient and effective service delivery. She highlighted that decentralising agriculture extension services would bring them closer to the livestock and crop producers who need them most.

Zaamwani also noted the importance of increasing domestic food production and reducing reliance on imports, especially in light of global geopolitical and trade instability impacting Namibia.

The formal transfer was marked by a signing ceremony. Minister Zaamwani signed on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, while the chairpersons of the 14 regional councils signed to officially receive the functions. Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, whose ministry oversees the regional councils, signed as a witness. Chief regional officers were also present.

Zaamwani confirmed that the functions would be transferred along with the necessary personnel, authority, and capital resources.

Both ministers expressed their satisfaction with the empowerment of regional councils through the decentralisation programme, initiated in 1997. They hope that other ministries will expedite their decentralisation and devolution processes, enhancing access to services at the grassroots and settlement levels via constituency and regional council government structures.

Several ministries, including those responsible for works, information, land, labour, social welfare, and health, have already decentralised some functions.