The National Youth Development Fund has been highlighted as a key financing tool to empower young Namibians to venture into agriculture, fisheries and natural resource-based businesses.

Speaking at the Erongo Regional Agri Youth Engagement, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Ruthy Masake, highlighted the National Youth Development Fund as a key tool to support youth-led businesses in agriculture, fisheries and other productive sectors.

The N$500 million fund, administered through the Development Bank of Namibia, Agribank and the Environmental Investment Fund, targets young Namibians aged 18 to 45 with registered enterprises and cooperatives.

Masake says the government wants Erongo's youth to create youth-led enterprises that can benefit from the region's marine resources, agricultural potential and the Walvis Bay port and export corridors.

"Government wants to see the youth of Erongo leading in fish processing, value addition and cold-chain logistics linked to the Walvis Bay fishing industry, mariculture, oyster and mussel farming and expansion into other viable marine species, small-stock and livestock production adapted to arid and semi-arid conditions, particularly around Omaruru and Karibib; water-efficient horticulture using groundwater and treated water sources near Walvis Bay and Swakopmund; agro-logistics and export-facilitation enterprises that leverage the port and the Walvis Bay Corridors; tourism-linked agri-enterprises supplying fresh produce, seafood and processed goods to the hospitality sector; and salt-based and resource-based value-addition ventures."

She further emphasised that NDP6 identifies agriculture, fisheries and natural resources as priority sectors for job creation, food security and export growth.

"NDP6 calls on us to shift decisively from subsistence to commercial and climate-smart production; champion youth-led agribusiness, agro-processing and value addition; build robust value chains, from sea and land to markets and exports; and ensure that land and marine resource access translates into real productivity, income and generational wealth."

The Erongo Regional Agri-Youth Engagement forms part of the government's efforts to empower young people with information, funding opportunities and practical support to participate meaningfully in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.