Namibia invests US$34mn to strengthen rain-fed agriculture

The Namibian government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, has announced an investment of US$34mn to support the implementation of strategic rain-fed agronomic projects during the 2025/26 financial year

The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to enhance national food security and build resilient agricultural value chains.

The funding will provide subsidised assistance to cereal farmers in the country’s ten crop-growing regions - Zambezi, Kunene, Omaheke, Otjozondjupa, Kavango East, Kavango West, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Oshana and Omusati. Support will include access to improved seeds, fertilisers, and mechanised tillage services.

The programmes will be delivered under existing initiatives such as the Dry Land Crop Production Programme (DCPP), the Cereal Value Chain Development Programme (CVCDP), and the Comprehensive Conservation Agriculture Programme (CCAP). While the DCPP and CVCDP are active in the ten cropping regions, the CCAP is being rolled out in all 14 regions across the country.

Funding distribution will vary by region. More than US$3.8mn has been allocated to the Zambezi region, while Ohangwena, Omusati, and Oshikoto will each receive US$2.9mn. Kavango East, Kavango West, and Oshana are set to receive US$2.8mn each, with smaller amounts going to Otjozondjupa, Omaheke, and Kunene.

Farmers will benefit from subsidised inputs, with support ranging from US$300 to US$500 to improve soil fertility and productivity. A 50% subsidy will be available on pesticides and herbicides, and weeding services will be subsidised at US$400 per hectare, up to a maximum of five hectares per household.

Further support includes a maximum subsidy of US$10,000 for household grain storage, US$30,000 for a hammer mill, and US$30,000 for a thresher. Farmers are encouraged to register at their nearest Agriculture Development Centres to access these benefits.

As the Ministry said, “The overall objective of these programmes is to ensure and accelerate the provision of subsidised agricultural production inputs (improved seeds and fertilisers) and mechanised services (tillage and planting).”

By increasing crop yields and lowering input costs, the government hopes to improve food and nutrition security, create employment, and reduce poverty and income inequality.