Agriculture a key pillar to achieve NDP6 – Ngurare

Prime minister Elijah Ngurare says agriculture is the foundation of Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) and has a critical role to play in the country’s development agenda.

In a speech read on his behalf at the official opening of the Epukiro Business and Agricultural Expo on Friday, Ngurare said NDP6 seeks an economy that is more diversified, productive, inclusive and capable of creating decent employment.

“Agriculture has a critical role to play in achieving this ambition,” he said.

Ngurare said NDP6 states that by 2030, Namibia should produce 80% of its national food requirements, compared to the current baseline of 60%.

He emphasised that farmers must increasingly be supported, not only as producers but as agricultural entrepreneurs.

“The real economic opportunity lies in what happens after production. If we produce cattle, we must ask how much value we can retain within Namibia. If we produce horticultural products, we must ask how we can process, package, preserve and market those products,” he explained.

Ngurare said linkages with feed producers, transporters, abattoirs, processors, retailers and exporters must be strengthened when producing livestock.

This, he said, is how agriculture is transformed from a primary activity into a complete economic value chain.

Ngurare added that NDP6 recognises this need by prioritising the revitalisation of strategic agricultural value chains, climate-smart production, market access and competitiveness, as well as agro-processing and value addition.

“Therefore, the future farmer is not only a producer, but an entrepreneur, an innovator and participant in the value chain,” he said.

Ngurare said agriculture cannot transform rural communities on its own, thus strong and viable small and medium enterprises (SMEs) around agriculture are needed.

“Our responsibility as the government is to create an enabling environment in which SMEs can access finance, markets, technology, infrastructure, skills and information,” he said, adding that NDP6 seeks to increase employment and diversify the economy.

He added that the NDP6 agricultural strategy specifically includes modernising and diversifying agricultural production, promoting agro-processing and supporting investment in agriculture.

“Expos such as this one are important because they give our farmers and entrepreneurs an opportunity to move beyond producing in isolation and begin building commercial relationships,” he said.

– Nampa

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