The national agricultural outlook conference for 2022 aimed at discussing the state affairs of the sector in the country, officially kicked off in the capital on Wednesday.

The Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein officially opened the conference, saying farmers and agricultural experts from different backgrounds who had travelled to attend are all welcome.

The one-day conference was organised by the Namibia National Farmers’ Union, Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers’ Union, the Previously Disadvantaged Namibian Farmers’ Union and the Namibia Agricultural Union.

Schlettwein in his official remarks reminded participants to see to it that the resolutions of the conference are well formulated, captured and implemented to assist the local agriculture sector to grow and contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“This is so because the conference is taking place at the most critical juncture when the sector is expected to deliver well on food security and socio-economic growth,” he said.

Schlettwein further told the conference that Namibians would also want to hear how the farming sector plans to revitalise the entire agricultural production into a reliable food security sector.

Other information needed is how the sector intends to identify and resolve policy constraints it faces, as well as the plans to invest resources in water generation and distribution, as water is the cornerstone to the economy and social progression of food security for everyone.

Schlettwein further urged the conference to thoroughly discuss and review some subtopics on land reform and resettlement policies.

“We want all potential in this sector to be unleashed at this conference and see it drive thousands of Namibian people out of poverty, joblessness, hunger and raising the GDP for the country,” he said.

Topics such as COVID-19, agricultural mentorship and financing amongst others were all expected to be presented at the conference.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency