Young people are being urged to take a leading role in transforming Namibia's agricultural sector and reducing the country's heavy reliance on food imports.

The call was made during the Youth Agricultural Co-operative establishment training at Swakopmund.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Art, and Culture urged the youth to engage in agriculture and slash the current imports of fruits and vegetables by 80%.

Dino Balloti emphasised that young people must shift from dependence to ownership.

"When you choose which kind of production you want to go into, try to differentiate yourself. There are specific fruits, vegetables and berries that are considered to be of high value. There is a demand. And when you move into these spaces, do some research to find out where the demand is. Please don't go into cabbage and mahangu because then you are competing with 100 other people doing cabbage."

The Director of Youth at the Ministry of Education, Nicolars Tembwe, said the initiative encourages youth to form agricultural cooperatives, research market demands, and avoid oversupplying produce to build sustainable agribusinesses.

"It is basically to empower the youth to drive the economy and reduce unemployment. And also in doing so, to enhance food security and achieve a very important target of 80% reduction of food import by 2028."

Through a structured six-month implementation plan, the Youth Directorate aims to register 14 agricultural cooperatives by next month with support from the National Youth Development Fund and development finance partners.

Participants say the programme shows the government's seriousness about empowering young people.

The training forms part of government efforts under NDP 6 to empower young people to drive economic development, reduce unemployment, and strengthen national food security.