Namibia is taking deliberate steps to reduce reliance on food imports by promoting local food production to enhance food security.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Inge Zaamwani, highlighted this during her engagement with agricultural sector stakeholders in the Hardap Region.

As part of her official visit to Hardap Region, Minister Zaamwani visited the Roots agricultural project near Stampriet to explore how to strengthen food security in the country.

The Roots project is founded on a new concept of agricultural towns that initially create a mini-economy within the community, which then expands over time to eventually export products to the international market.

"Our target is to increase food production, at least for the next five years, from 47 per percent, 80 percent. If we can reach 100 percent. Why not? But at least that is what we are looking at. And that's not the government that produces food. Of course, we have green schemes. They do contribute. But individual players and projects like this will also fill in the gap."

The founder of Roots, Johan Riekert, revealed plans are in the cards to expand the project to other towns in the country.

"The solution for our country lies on the foundation of agriculture. Nothing else. We still own the resources. Our Namibians own the resources. The problem is all mines and all of that are sold out already. We are not uranium; we are not owning diamonds; we are not owning gold, but we can own land and our resources of water, wind and sun. Through those resources, we can bring all the solutions, and this is the concept of Roots."

Minister Zaamwani also paid a courtesy call on Hardap Governor Riaan McNab.

"Hardap Region, in terms of land, water, agriculture and all the different departments in the ministry, we are facing some challenges. We can't be dishonest to say we don't have challenges. We are having challenges, but this is not a time to speak in-depth of our challenges. Our request that the region get a proper platform."