Empowering farmers to enhance food security, productivity

Horticultural farmers from the Kavango West Region recently participated in a benchmarking visit to acquire critical knowledge on cooperative farming and market access in Olushandja in the Omusati Region.Kavango West governor, Sirkka Ausiku, led the delegation from the regional council and selected farmers on the one-day visit to Olushandja. The visit was sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to enhance agricultural productivity and resilience.“The visit, in line with the recommendations of the Kavango West agriculture conference that took place in November 2024, aimed to facilitate knowledge sharing and expose farmers to best practices in horticulture," FAO said in a statement.Ausiku emphasised the importance of empowering small-scale farmers to transition into commercial agriculture."Small-scale farmers need to be supported so that they can graduate from subsistence farming into commercial farming, ensuring sustainable livelihoods," she said. She said the Kavango West has the potential to become Namibia’s breadbasket, and agriculture can play a key role in addressing poverty and unemployment in the region.“We are grateful to FAO for sponsoring this visit and for their continued support to farmers in the region through resilience-building projects funded by the government of Japan," Ausiku noted. During the visit, the farmers toured various horticulture farms in Omusati, gaining insights into efficient farming techniques, cooperative management and market access strategies.Omusati governor Erginus Endjala underscored the significance of collaboration among farmers."It is high time that small-scale farmers produce enough to compete with major retailers. I encourage farmers to form cooperatives, such as the Olushandja Horticulture Farmers’ Cooperative, and find ways to create markets for their produce. Initiatives like this between regions should happen more often, as they allow farmers to exchange ideas and create a food-secure future for Namibia," Endjala said. Learning new ways Farmers who participated in the benchmarking visit expressed their satisfaction with the experience, highlighting the valuable lessons they acquired.Gottfried Haikera, a horticulture and poultry farmer from Tondoro village in Kavango West, shared how the visit opened his eyes to new ways of farming."I was particularly impressed by how the Olushandja farmers have properly organised themselves into a well-run cooperative. Their ability to market their produce and supply to various clients is something I hope to replicate in my own farming business," Haikera said. Josephine Kamaranga, a youth horticulturist from Katjinakatji, expressed her enthusiasm for implementing the knowledge gained."This visit impressed me so much that I am now very motivated to apply what I have learned and expand my horticulture farm to produce on a larger scale. I encourage other young people to consider farming as a viable source of livelihood. Let us not shy away from hard work – this visit inspired me when I saw farmers driving cars and supporting their families through farming."Empowering farmers FAO national project coordinator Gift Kamupingene highlighted the importance of such initiatives."At FAO, we believe that learning from successful farming models is key to strengthening agricultural production and improving food security. This visit was designed to expose farmers to practical, proven farming techniques that can be replicated in their own communities. By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, we are empowering farmers to adapt to climate challenges, enhance productivity, and contribute to Namibia’s broader food security goals."FAO said that the initiative not only provided practical insights into improved farming practices but also fostered networking and collaboration among farmers from different regions.Endjala encouraged more cross-regional exchanges, stressing the importance of idea-sharing to build a resilient and food-secure Namibia.The exposure visit was funded through the Emergency Response to Enhance Resilience and Mitigate Climate-Induced Impacts on Livelihoods, Food and Nutrition Security of the Most Vulnerable Households in Namibia Project', which is fully funded by the government of Japan.

Empowering farmers to enhance food security, productivity

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Republikein 2025-04-02

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