Farmers Face Production Challenges: Muremi.

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Namibia National Farmers Union (NNFU) president Adolf Muremi has said farmers cannot achieve production efficiency due to production: Speaking at the launch of the Strategy for the Transformation of the Agriculture Sector (STAS) here on Wednesday, Muremi said the challenges include bush encroachment which reduces grazing capacity, and limited underground water. Further challenges are limited access to markets, particularly for farmers in the Northern Communal Areas (NCA), and the lack of infrastructure and road infrastructure.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Muremi emphasized that the goal is not merely survival but growth and highlighted the importance of agriculture’s contribution to Namibia’s GDP. He pointed out that achieving this requires a fundamental shift in focus toward production efficiency, which is currently hindered by the challenges faced by farmers. He stressed that the agricultural sector is Namibia’s backbone and that every investment in agricultural productivity has a multiplying effect
throughout the economy.

Muremi also noted the significant role of collaboration among farmers’ unions, despite differing perspectives. He extended an invitation to the government and other stakeholders to build on the foundation of unity to create an agricultural sector that serves all Namibians. Muremi represented four farmers’ unions, namely the NNFU, the Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers Union (NECFU), Namibia Agriculture Union (NAU), and the Previously Disadvantaged Namibia Farmers Union (PDNFU).

The unions welcome and support Namibia’s Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) under the African Union member states as part of Agenda 2063. Muremi highlighted the unprecedented unity among the four farmers’ unions, which represents a fundamental shift in addressing the sector’s challenges and opportunities.

Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, in a speech read on his behalf at the launch, reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to implementing the CAADP. This
commitment will require all member states to develop a National Agriculture Investment Plan and sign the CAADP Compact. Schlettwein mentioned that the Ministry, as the custodian of the agriculture, water, and land-related sectors, spearheaded the formulation of the strategy for transforming the agri-food sector. The STAS aims to position agriculture as a major driver of economic development, specifically targeting youth employment.