Namibia is seeking to strengthen agricultural production through improved seeds, modern farming technologies and research in cooperation with China's Sichuan Province.

The cooperation was discussed at the Namibia-Sichuan Agricultural Science and Technology Cooperation and Exchange Seminar in Windhoek.

The platform identified priority areas mainly in mechanisation, seed development, skills transfer and agricultural trade.

Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Minister Inge Zaamwani says Namibia also wants to move towards irrigation-driven and climate-smart farming to strengthen food security and agricultural resilience. 

"Namibia is accelerating our efforts to transition from a predominantly rain-fed agricultural system to more resilient, productive, irrigation-driven and climate-smart production models. At the same time, we are unlocking the productive potential of undiluted lines and brownfield agricultural land across all our 14 regions. It is within this context that we have identified four priority areas of cooperation with the Sean province, each aimed at strengthening our sustainable agricultural productivity and innovation."

The partnership also seeks to encourage investment in agricultural machinery, improve local seed systems and strengthen research capacity to help farmers increase productivity. 

China's Ambassador to Namibia, Zhao Weiping says the seminar provided a platform to deepen agricultural cooperation between  the two countries. 

"Agriculture has always been one of the key priorities for President Detwa in terms of China and the media cooperation. And thus the President took time out of a very busy schedule during the state visit to make an onsite inspection of the modern agricultural science and technology innovation demonstration part of the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences."

The two countries aim to translate  their cooperation  into practical benefits for famers, agribusinesses and rural communities.