The board of directors of the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) held a stakeholder engagement this morning with producers and traders in the Zambezi Region. 

NAB Chief Executive Officer Dr. Fidelis Mwazi outlined the NAB's five-year plan, emphasising its alignment with the recently launched sixth National Development Plan (NDP 6) by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. NDP 6 aims to boost Namibia's food self-sufficiency, targeting an increase in local food production from the current 60% to 80% of national requirements.

Dr. Mwazi noted that while Namibia has achieved 100% production in certain food categories, there are limitations in others. The engagement highlighted the urgent need to promote climate-smart agricultural practices, particularly to address the challenges posed by droughts, which lead to increased food imports during seasonal fluctuations.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform, Ruth Masake, encouraged farmers to voice their challenges, emphasising that such meetings are crucial for informing the ministry on how to best support the agricultural sector.