The Vice Chancellor of the University of Namibia, Professor Kenneth Matengu, has said the extended rice production area is expected to yield 19 tonnes of rice. This expansion of the planting area is thanks to a sponsorship from Debmarine and the enduring partnership with the government of Japan.
Prof. Matengu was speaking at the Annual Rice Harvest Festival at Ogongo Campus in the Omusati Region to celebrate and underscore UNAM's commitment to the national development agenda.
This year's Annual Rice Harvest Festival was celebrated under the theme "Promoting Seasonal Wetland Rice Production Among Smallholders for Sustainable Livelihoods".
The Vice-Chancellor described it as not just being timely but also visionary, as it reflects the university's commitment to transforming adversity into opportunity and aligns seamlessly with UNAM's 2025 strategic goals, namely Relevance, Innovation and Impact.
"Rice yield has increased significantly with the improved production area rising from 4.1 hectares last year to 6.7 hectares this year. Also, this year, rice yield is expected to rise from 15 to 19 tonnes. These are not just statistics I am giving you; they are tangible evidence of community transformation and development. At Ogongo, we are proud to have three dynamic departments: Crop Production and Agricultural Technology, Animal Production, Agribusiness and Economics and Environmental Science. These departments offer cutting-edge programmes that directly support Namibia's development agenda: Vision 2030, the Harambe Prosperity Plan and, of course, the Swapo Party manifesto."
UNAM Ogongo Campus's relationship with Japan started in 2002 with a short-term Japan International Corporation Entity capacity-building programme for the university's staff, which ended in 2004.
Shinichi Asazuma, the ambassador of Japan to Namibia, said, "As we celebrate with UNAM the achievement of the Namibia-Japan Rice and Mahangu Project, we urge all involved to continue to foster innovative climate-smart technologies to create resilient climates that are better able to deal with the multitude of shocks induced by climate change in the community. Together we are creating a foundation for a brighter future, one that will last for generations to come."