The funding aims to boost food security, improve productivity, and help farmers.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has committed over N$28mn to support small-scale farmers across Namibia

The funding aims to boost food security, improve productivity, and help farmers adapt to climate change by targeting key agricultural value chains.

According to Simon Nghipandulwa, ministry spokesperson  the initiatives span all 14 regions and include support for horticulture, poultry, dairy, and small-stock farming. Speaking during an oversight tour of the ministry’s programmes, he highlighted that the goal is to uplift small-scale producers through targeted subsidies, technical support, and training.

One major initiative is the Horticulture Support and Value Chain Development Programme, which is expected to benefit around 1,000 producers. Farmers under this scheme will receive significant subsidies: 50% for seeds, 60% for fertilisers, 50% for pesticides and herbicides, and 65% for irrigation equipment and shade nets. Subsidised tillage services are also available at N$500 per hectare. “To qualify, beneficiaries must be Namibian citizens with verified production capabilities, reliable water sources, and concrete production and marketing plans,” said Nghipandulwa.

The Poultry Value Chain Development Scheme, with a budget of N$5.04mn, targets 2,000 poultry producers nationwide. Participants can access a 60% subsidy on production stock, 50% on medicines and feed, and 65% on equipment such as incubators and housing. In addition, N$840,000 has been allocated for training in poultry farming and marketing.

In the dairy sector, a pilot scheme is underway in Otjozondjupa, Omaheke, Hardap, Oshikoto, and Zambezi. This Dairy Value Chain Development Scheme focuses on 150 current dairy producers and aims to build a modern, self-sustaining dairy industry. Farmers are eligible for subsidies covering 60% of production stock, 50% of veterinary supplies and feed, and 65% of equipment and construction costs. “The maximum subsidy per beneficiary is N$200,000 for dairy cattle and N$100,000 for dairy goats,” added Nghipandulwa.

The Ministry also continues its Small Stock Distribution and Development Programme, a revolving project that provides vulnerable households with quality breeding stock. Each approved beneficiary receives 20 ewes and one ram to help build long-term income and sustainability.

Al Zain Poultry is a key customer in Oman, demonstrating impressive year-on- year improvements in broiler performance. (Image credit: Aviagen)

Al Zain Poultry, a Ross 308 customer from Oman, has once again demonstrated its commitment to excellence by earning additional awards from the prestigious Ross Broiler Executive Club in recognition of outstanding broiler performance

Since its establishment in 2013, Al Zain Poultry has become a leading name in Oman’s food industry, championing national food security with a premium range of fresh eggs, liquid eggs, and fresh and frozen chicken.

Broiler flock performance remains consistently strong, thanks to the genetic progress of the Ross 308 and the expertise and dedication of Ross customers across the region. The Ross Broiler Executive Club honours producers who reach a European Product Efficiency Factor (EPEF) of 400 or higher with their broiler flocks. Al Zain Poultry was recently recognised with certificates for two of its broiler flocks. The first achieved an average EPEF of 407, with a top-performing flock reaching 428, securing Silver membership in the Ross Broiler Executive Club. The second flock recorded an impressive average EPEF of 422, with its best flock attaining 471.5, earning Gold membership in the Club.

“Al Zain Poultry is deeply honoured to be recognised as an exclusive member of the Ross Broiler Executive Club. This achievement highlights the strength of our relationship with Aviagen- whose genetics, quality, and service consistently deliver exceptional results-as well as the dedication and professionalism of our team. Earning the Gold Award is a true reflection of our commitment to operational excellence, continuous improvement, and best practices across every aspect of our business. We extend our sincere gratitude to our production team for their relentless efforts and to the Ross MEA team for their invaluable guidance and support in reaching this milestone,” said Murtuza Boriyawala, CEO, Al Zain PoultryFarm.

Zohir Hadj-Zoubir, International Commercial Manager, MENA, added: “Al Zain Poultry is a key customer in Oman, demonstrating impressive year-on-year improvements in broiler performance. Their success reflects a steadfast commitment to operational excellence, continuous improvement, and best practices. We commend the Al Zain production team for their dedication, hard work, and relentless efforts, and we look forward to their continued growth and achievements.”

This collaboration has meant not only increased food security but also a more sustainable livelihood.

In Bomet County located in the Rift Valley region of Kenya, Hellen Rono is already preparing her farm for the new planting season

After a successful tomato harvest, which seemed improbable just a year ago, she is optimistic about her future crops. Like many farmers in the region, Hellen had traditionally depended on rainwater, but it was never enough for her commercial ambitions. The cold climate added to the challenge, prompting her to invest in a greenhouse. She believed it was the solution to her problems, but her first attempt ended in disaster.

“I planted tomatoes inside my greenhouse, which is eight metres by 15 metres, and they started germinating and growing well. However, midway through the growth process, the tomatoes began withering one by one, just as they were about to flower,” Hellen said. The withering continued until nearly 10 plants were dying each day.

Instead of giving up, Hellen reached out to agricultural officers who confirmed the plants were infected with tomato wilt. “We were told that there was no medicine for the disease. They advised us to irrigate the plants with plenty of water to prevent further withering,” she explains. With her farm relying on Bomet County water for both domestic and agricultural use, Hellen's water bill soared as she was using around 200 litres per day to irrigate the tomatoes. Despite the increased irrigation, her greenhouse remained flooded, but the damage was done—by the time some plants began to fruit, the entire crop had withered. There was nothing to harvest.

This setback led Hellen to research tomato wilt online, where she discovered tomato grafting, a technique from China that combats the disease. She also learned that high temperatures inside her greenhouse were another contributing factor, causing the flowers to drop and halting fruit production. “When scientists supervised my greenhouse, they reported high temperatures. At the time, I could not work inside the greenhouse from as early as 10 am because it was unbearably hot,” Hellen says.

Upon receiving training on how to regulate greenhouse temperatures, Hellen reduced the number of tomato plants from 500 to 250. The results were immediate. “We planted both grafted and non-grafted tomatoes in the same greenhouse. After a month, the non-grafted tomatoes started withering, while the grafted ones flowered consistently,” she says. “The grafted plants were not infected, and they continued to fruit, leading to a bumper harvest.”

Hellen's grafted tomatoes yielded impressive results. “It took 75 days to start harvesting grafted tomatoes, the same as the non-grafted ones. However, the grafted ones lasted much longer, with the first harvest weighing 6.8kg compared to 5.1kg from the non-grafted. The grafted plants reached an incredible 73.2kg, while the non-grafted ones barely made it to 8.7kg before dying.”

Yutao Liu, professor & director of the Confucius Institute at Egerton University, highlights the positive outcomes of using technological innovations in farming. "The graft seedling is resistant to disease, while the normal seedling is not. This is an example of the promising future of agricultural technology, particularly through the partnership between China and Kenya," Liu explains.

The collaboration between Egerton University and Nanjing Agricultural University has seen the establishment of 18 demo sites across Nakuru, Kisumu, Bomet, and Subukia. These sites showcase the grafted tomato variety, which has shown promise with a six-month harvest period per planting season. However, to grow grafted tomatoes, farmers need to have greenhouses.

The China-IFAD South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) initiative, funded by the Chinese Ministry of Finance, is behind this project, which aims to provide rural youth and farmers with innovative horticultural solutions. Steve Codjo, a regional analyst for China-IFAD SSTC, explains, “South-South cooperation is about knowledge exchange. We wanted something tangible that would serve the smallholder farmers for the long term.”

For farmers like Hellen, this collaboration has meant not only increased food security but also a more sustainable livelihood. This demonstrates that when technology is adapted to local contexts, it can break cycles of agricultural loss and empower rural communities.

The project puts a strong emphasis on training and building capacity among farmers.

Rwandan farmers and the private sector collaborated to improve the maize and soybean value chains for over 4,000 smallholder farmers

This partnership seeks to overcome key challenges such as low yields, limited access to quality seeds, and a lack of market opportunities, which are common among smallholder farmers in rural Rwanda.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to combat food insecurity and enhance the livelihoods of farmers across the country. By working together, farmers and private sector organisations aim to create a more efficient and sustainable agricultural value chain. The project addresses multiple aspects of the farming process, from better input supplies to improving market access. A key focus is providing farmers with high-quality seeds, offering extension services, and supporting better post-harvest handling practices.

Private sector partners, including seed companies, agribusinesses, and processors, play a pivotal role in this initiative. They are helping smallholders gain access to certified seeds, fertilizers, and modern farming practices. Furthermore, the project aims to enhance storage facilities and processing units, which are crucial for reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring that harvested crops are efficiently stored and processed.

The project also puts a strong emphasis on training and building capacity among farmers. Field agents and extension workers are being deployed to offer support on the latest agricultural practices, pest management techniques, and sustainable farming methods. This guidance is intended to help farmers increase their yields and improve the quality of their crops, making them more competitive in the market.

One of the most significant aspects of the partnership is improving market access for smallholder farmers. By connecting farmers with local and regional markets, the initiative ensures fair pricing for their produce, while also providing agribusinesses with a steady supply of quality maize and soybeans. This greater market access helps farmers bypass middlemen and capture a larger share of the profits.

Ultimately, this collaboration between farmers and the private sector offers a comprehensive approach to improving Rwanda's agricultural value chains. The combined efforts are set to enhance food security, increase incomes for smallholder farmers, and promote more sustainable farming practices. The long-term impact of this initiative is expected to play a crucial role in Rwanda’s agricultural growth and broader economic development.