To acknowledge the contributions of women in agriculture, various women farmers from the Kavango West Region gathered in Nkurenkuru in celebration of International Women's Day. 

The event was organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture.

The event brought together various female farmers from the region where they shared their experiences, challenges, and best practices. The idea is to inspire and empower women through knowledge sharing mentorship. 

It's always been said that the Kavango regions have the potential of becoming the country's biggest producers of food. It's believed that with the right support, local women can be empowered to become the backbone of agrifood systems. 

"They produce, process, and prepare food. They nurture families. They drive rural economies. Yet, despite their immense contributions, they continue to face barriers that limit their full potential. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that women make up nearly 50% of the agricultural workforce in sub-Saharan Africa, yet they own less than 20% of the land. Studies show that if women had equal access to resources such as land, credit, and training, agricultural yields could increase by up to 30%, reducing hunger for as many as 150 million people worldwide," said Dr. Qingyun Diao, FAO Representative in Namibia.

Kavango West Governor, Sirkka Ausiku, says agriculture will help the region to address food security at the household level and beyond and will help improve the livelihoods of many communities.

"The region has more than 200 small-scale horticulture producers. The region also has well-organised livestock farmers. The region wants to thank the government for the opening of the Rundu abattoir. However, farmers in the region are experiencing the following challenges: lack of access to formal markets, specifically the horticulture producers; lack of feeder roads; limited value-addition technology and facilities; lack of inputs; and lack of information. I am happy that FAO and other development partners are on board to help the region in addressing these challenges." 

FAO says all stakeholders in the agrifood sector must work together to ensure that all women farmers have equal access to land, training and skill development opportunities, protection from the devastating effects of climate change and support to access markets and fair prices for their produce.