The Deputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says agriculture remains one of the sectors that can help reduce poverty, improve the living standards of the people and ensure food security for the poor in the country.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah addressed a series of business persons' engagements at Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.
 
Nandi-Ndaitwah says good health and inclusive food systems are critical to achieving the country's development goals and improving people's lives.

She says agricultural development is one of the most powerful tools to reduce extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity and economic growth.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the gains were threatened though by external shocks including climate change, unfavorable economic conditions, political conflicts and higher food prices - just to mention but a few.

"When we talk about Agriculture we should not only think about the plowing and maybe the weeding, and harvesting Agriculture starts, before you start your plantation, before you start your cultivation, you need a scientist who will understand the soil, and who will tell you what type of plants you should put there, that's why agriculture is very important." 

Nandi-Ndaitwah is also concerned about the low productivity of farmers.

"It's really sad that our farms have become unproductive, our farms that were productive have become holiday and party people, I will take it up, the Swapo Party has to look into this."