The Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency's silo capacity for grain storage currently stands at 22,900 metric tonnes.

However, AMTA's Corporate Communication Officer says this is not enough to meet Namibia's current grain demand.

Of the 22,900 metric tonnes, Zambezi Region has the highest storage capacity of 7,400 metric tonnes, Ohangwena has 4,500, Kavango East and Oshikoto have 4000 each, and the lowest is Omusati with 3000 metric tonnes.

Pasval Elijah says AMTA plans to expand this capacity to at least 99 thousand metric tonnes over a five-year period.

"Let's assume we find ourselves in a drought the whole country, there is nothing we get from outside; we will find ourselves in a situation where we are unable to feed ourselves, so it's important as stakeholders that we work together, assist each other, and see that should drought come in Namibia, we will die of hunger because the 22000 won't be able to feed us for a long period."

The Agency's National Strategic Food Reserve is a government-initiated grain storage facility for storing grains.

While at the same time aiming to maintain optimal levels of national food reserves to address local food security and be able to respond to immediate food requirements.

Currently, AMTA, through its milling facility in Katwitwi, is milling white maize sourced from the silo in Tsandi for OPM and is tasked with delivering maize meal to the Erongo Region for drought relief."

The Agency is currently in the middle of grain marketing season, with registered farmers delivering grains to the silos.

"This is our grain procurement season, which started in June and will run until all the allocated grain to AMTA is absorbed, and secondly, the grain produced locally is not so much to say it can fill our silos, the quantities are usually less, so one is bonded to buy from outside should the need arise."

Elijah also notes a low uptake of local products by organisations, ministries, and agencies, resulting in low market access.

"AMTA defines its business module in this business module we look at expanding our operations, so we will expand our silos, we will also expand the milling facilities, and we will also add value to our products so that we don't sell them raw and by so doing we create employment. So we therefore implore our OMAs to please come on board, let us work together, let us support our farmers and the local retailers, and let us assist these farmers by buying for local farmers so we grow our farmers and our economy through agriculture."