Beijing: Government officials and agricultural leaders commemorated World Food Day at Ncamagoro village in the Kavango West Region on Saturday with a call for collective action to combat hunger and food insecurity. Minister of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Land Reform, Inge Zaamwani, in a statement read on her behalf highlighted Namibia’s vulnerability to climate change and recurring droughts that threaten agricultural production and rural livelihoods.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the minister stated, ‘Our country is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and we are naturally prone to recurring droughts that strain our people, our economy, and the environment. These climatic shocks have far-reaching consequences such as a reduction in crop yields, diminished grazing pastures, and worsened vulnerability of already food-insecure communities.’ The minister called for renewed commitment to ensuring food security for all Namibians.

Kavango West Governor Verna Sinimbo meanwhile emphasised her region’s agricultural potential, describing it as naturally suited for farming. ‘The Kavango West Region is an agricultural region by nature and by heritage. Our people have for generations lived off the land, cultivating, harvesting, and feeding the nation,’ she said. Sinimbo outlined ongoing regional initiatives, including crop production support, horticulture promotion, and irrigation projects aimed at making Kavango West ‘the true breadbasket of Namibia.’

The representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in Namibia, Ferdinand Mwapopi, addressed persistent challenges despite global food production progress. ‘The challenge is not food availability, but accessibility and affordability – particularly relevant here in Namibia,’ he stated. Mwapopi emphasised the importance of empowering smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, through access to land rights, credit, and technology. He called for investments in drought-resistant crops and early warning systems to address climate unpredictability.

This year’s World Food Day theme, ‘Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,’ underscored the need for increased collaboration to transform agricultural systems. The commemoration included donations of food items and gardening implements to small-scale farmers and vulnerable households.